R. Wayne Nelson

A celebration of life for R. Wayne Nelson, 93, will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Adams Alumni Center at Kansas University.Mr. Nelson died Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.He was born Feb. 24, 1912, in Zenith, the son of Ross L. and Stella Forbes Nelson. He graduated from Spearville High School, Southwestern State Teacher’s College and received a master’s degree from KU. He moved to Lawrence in 1949.Mr. Nelson taught music in western Kansas and taught band and vocal music in Lawrence from 1949 to 1965. He was director of fine arts for the Lawrence school district until he retired in 1976. He later played piano for retirement homes and school class reunions.He married Trena Perkins on March 16, 1931, in Oklahoma. She died in 1978.An infant daughter, Sylvia Sue Nelson, died earlier.Survivors include two daughters, Kay Nelson Davis, Lawrence, and Judith Nelson Greer, Albuquerque, N.M.; three sisters, Nellie Deeds, Fort Collins, Colo., Carol Pearson, Vashon Island, Wash., and Shirley Hilyard, Bowling Green, Ohio; three grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and six stepgreat-grandchildren.The family suggests memorials to the Lawrence High School Music Department, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence.Online condolences may be sent to www.rumsey-yost.com.