ENID — Funeral service for Ronald Nelson will be 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, 2011, at North Garland Church of Christ with Mr. Gordon Jantz and Mr. Lendal Bolin officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery, Carrier, under the direction of Anderson-Burris Funeral Home. Visitation with the family will be Thursday evening from 5:30-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Ronald Roy Nelson was born May 2, 1946, to Roy G. and Nellie Fern Graham Nelson in Enid, Okla. He entered his heavenly rest on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011, on the farm where he grew up, after a valiant 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

While a student at Oklahoma State University, he met the love of his life, Jane Willingham. They were married May 22, 1966, in Bennett Chapel on the campus of OSU. They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary this year.

Ronald graduated from OSU in 1969 with a B.S. degree in animal science. Shortly after graduation he began active military duty at Fort Polk, La., and Fort Hood, Texas. He returned home to serve six years in the 189th/45th Division of the Oklahoma National Guard. After his return from military duty, Ronald entered a partnership with his dad and developed R&R Enterprises, consisting of farrow to finish hog operation, stocker cattle, as well as farming and ranching.

Ronald was very active in the Garfield County Farm Bureau and served on the county board. He was elected chairman of Garfield County Young Farmers and Ranchers and was elected to Oklahoma Young Farmers and Ranchers, where he served two terms as chairman. Ronald became an ex-officio member of the State Board of Directors and served on the State Swine Committee tasked with improving hog operations across the state. He was then selected to the National Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee and traveled extensively across the United States promoting agriculture, visiting the white house, as well as interacting with agricultural leaders from across the nation. In 1976, Ronald was selected as the outstanding young farmer for Garfield County by the Enid Jaycees. He received an honorary membership to the Carrier FFA, which he always treasured. Ronald was very active in North Garland Church of Christ, where he taught Sunday school and marriage enrichment classes.

In 2006, he traveled to the Philippines on a church planting mission trip, which proved to be the highlight of his Christian walk. Ronald served the North Garland congregation as a deacon and was selected as an elder in 1990. He served in that capacity until his death. Ronald felt his greatest accomplishment was seeing all three of his children obtain masters and/or professional degrees.

He was preceded in death by his father. Ronald is survived by his mother, Nellie Fern Nelson of Enid; his loving wife, Jane of the home; his children and their spouses, Amber and Jason Davis of Edmond, Ryan and Susan Nelson of Enid and Amanda and Jonathan Brandon of Fayetteville, N.C.; a sister and her husband, Denise and Don Jones of Enid; seven grandchildren, Grace, Claire and Kate Davis of Edmond, Rhett, Luke and Sam Nelson of Enid and Levi Brandon of Fayetteville; a host of brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins, who loved him dearly.