Meriden “Nellie” H. Nelson, 75, passed away in the comfort of his Moretown home on Monday, May 25, 2015. Born in North Fayston on October 3, 1939, he was the son of the late Henry and Merle (Brown) Nelson. On April 9, 1960, he married the former Margaret E. Grandfield in Moretown. Margaret predeceased Meriden on November 27, 2004.
Meriden attended schools in Moretown and then went on to work for E.A. Grandfield Excavation Co. of Moretown as a heavy equipment operator. In addition Meriden was employed at Sugarbush Resort as a trail groomer during the winter months. Both vocations spanned over 36 years. For the past 15 years he has worked for the town of Moretown plowing sidewalks in the winter and doing grounds maintenance in the summer, retiring in 2012.
He served the town of Moretown as a member for over 50 years and former fire chief of the volunteer fire department. His other memberships included the Mad River Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club and the NRA.
In his leisure time, he enjoyed NASCAR, stock car racing at Thunder Road, camping with Margaret in their travel trailer throughout Vermont and Maine and spending time with his son Rick and their large and loving extended family.
Meriden is survived by his son, Rick Nelson of Waitsfield; two sisters, Neva Dessureau of Hobe Sound, Florida, and Delema Gratton of Winooski; a brother, Carlos Nelson and his wife Patricia of Duxbury; his brother-in-law, Eugene Grandfield of Moretown; sisters-in-law, Joan Grenier and her husband Roger of Waterbury Center and Marilyn Cameron and her husband Lester of Moretown; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Meriden was predeceased by four sisters, Hesta Livingston, Leona Fleischer, Beverly Allen and Lois Nelson, and two brothers, William Nelson Sr. and Henry Nelson.
A service celebrating the life of Meriden Nelson will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2015, at 11 a.m. from Moretown United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Moretown. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Mad River Valley Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 305, Waitsfield, VT 05673, or to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org). Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences please visit us at www.perkinsparker.com and Facebook.
