Chester Clay Nelson

Chester Clay Nelson, 92 of St. Albans went home to be with the Lord on January 29, 2014 at New Haven Assisted Living, Kevil, KY, where he had been residing to be close to his family. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 56 years, Adeline Marie Nelson, and together they led an exemplary Christian life. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Anna Nelson; his brothers, Opie Lee and Charles; sisters, Reva Stowers, Sylvia Hall, Golda Yeager, Opal Hodge, Helen McGhee and Rose Dent. Chester is survived by his daughter, Dreama Deardorff and husband Robert Deardorff of Kevil, KY; grandsons, Robert Nelson Deardorff of Newburgh, IN, David Lee Deardorff of Madisonville, KY and Andrew Stephen Deardorff and wife Karey of Madisonville, KY; great grandchildren, Claire Alexandra Deardorff, Carli Nelson Deardorff and Colden Clay Deardorff of Newburgh, IN. Chester had close relationships with nephew, Thomas Dent of Beaver, OH; nieces, Virginia Nelson Mobley of St. Albans and Doris Roberts of Hurricane, as well as numerous other nephews and nieces. As a young man Chester worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps. During the early years of WWII he worked for the Martin Company at the Baltimore, MD plant, as a machinist working on production of the B26 aircraft for the war effort. He later enlisted in the US Navy where he served aboard the USS Yosemite in the South Pacific during the remainder of WWII. Chester retired from Union Carbide after 36 years of service, was a member of the WV American Legion Post No. 73 in St. Albans. A faithful Christian, he was a member of New Hope Baptist Church where he served both as a deacon and trustee over the course of 50 years. Visitation with the family will be from 6-8 pm Monday, February 3, 2014 at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans. Memorial service will be Tuesday at 11:00 am by his pastor Duane Defoe at the funeral home with military honors being conducted by the American Legion Post No. 61 of Clendenin. Interment will be at the Nelson Cemetery in Griffithsville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make donations to the Lourdes Hospice, 2855 Jackson Street, Paducah, KY 42011. You may also share memories or condolences with the family at www.chapmanfuneralhomes.com. The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to Chester’s compassionate caregivers from Lourdes Hospice of Paducah and to the loving staff at New Haven Assisted Living in Kevil, KY where he resided the final two years of his life. Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, family-owned and located at 409 Sixth Avenue, St. Albans is honored to serve the Nelson family.