Mrs. Mary Lavenia "Lucy" Nelson, 89, formerly of Clements, MD, died Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at Glade Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Walkersville, MD.

She was the wife of the late Joseph Elmer Nelson, Sr. who died March 5, 1991. They were married on October 19, 1942. She was preceded in death by her brother, Daniel Brown, and sisters, Edith Bowles and Frances Woodall.

Born August 18, 1920 in Avenue, MD, Lucy was the daughter of the late Joseph Benjamin and Mary Roberta Brown. Lucy was an excellent seamstress, and loved music and dancing. She worked in women's retail before marrying and starting her family. In addition to caring for her children, she was an avid gardener. For more than 40 years Lucy also worked as a clerk and cook at the Chaptico Market in Chaptico, MD.

While a resident of Country Meadows of Frederick, Lucy enjoyed making pottery and jewelry, and sewing decorative pillows. Her friends and caretakers at Country Meadows and Glade Valley remember her fondly.

Lucy is lovingly remembered by her son, Joseph Elmer Nelson, Jr. (Susan), and daughter R. Charlene Bonham (Bill); three granddaughters, Vickie Kanyan (Brian), Diane Jones (Billy), and Emily Bonham Owen (Pete); and two great-grandsons, Vincent and Zachary Kanyan.

Lucy's nieces and nephews in the Woodall and Kotowski families are comforted by their fond memories of "Aunt Bea". Long-time family friends Bobby and Diane Anderson, and Jackie and Virginia Tennyson were also very special to her.

The family will receive friends at Mattingly-Gardiner Funeral Home at 41590 Fenwick Street in Leonardtown, MD on Friday, May 28 from 5 – 8 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church at 37575 Chaptico Road in Chaptico, MD on Saturday, May 29 at 9:30 a.m. A graveside service will follow at Charles Memorial Gardens at 26325 Point Lookout Road in Leonardtown, MD.

Pall bearers will be Billy Jones, Bobby Anderson, Brian Kanyan, Emily Bonham Owen, Ernie Woodall, and Pete Owen. Honorary pall bearers are Bernard Cullins, Jr., Jackie Tennyson, Mickey Nelson, Mike Woodall, Vincent Kanyan, and Zachary Kanyan.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.mgfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Seventh District Rescue Squad, 21530 Coltons Point Road, Avenue, MD 20609.

Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.