Royal A. Nelson

Funeral services for Royal A. Nelson, age 87 of Lisbon, will be held on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Lisbon with Rev. Kathleen Hyde and Rev. Walter Smith concelebrating. Burial will follow at the White Church Cemetery.

Calling hours will be held at the church on Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and again on Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Mr. Nelson passed away peacefully on Friday evening at Claxton Hepburn Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.

Surviving are his son Mark (JoAnne) Nelson of Lisbon; daughter Kimberly Davis (Peter Oakes) of Cocoa Beach, FL; grandchildren Leslie and Debbie Nelson, Lindsay Lynch (Katie Terwilliger), and McKenzie Lynch (fiancé Collin Sovie); great-granddaughter Emma Bradish; brother-in-law and Paul Campbell; sisters-in-law Stella Nelson of Lisbon, Mary Margaret Mayette of Waddington, Janice Barry (Frank Legg) of Syracuse, and Peggy McRoberts of Lake Havasu, AZ; and close friend and caregiver Bernie Crossett of Lisbon.

Royal was predeceased by his beloved wife Joan; his three brothers, Lowell, David & Robert Nelson; his sister Mary Campbell; and brothers in-law Nelson McRoberts and Jerry (Ann) McRoberts.

Royal was born on February 7, 1938, in Ogdensburg, a son of the late Donald and Dorothy (Fields) Nelson. He graduated from Lisbon High School and later married Joan E. McRoberts. Over the course of his long and varied career, he worked as a farmer, construction worker, delivery driver for Metropolitan Petroleum, longshoreman at the Ogdensburg Bridge & Port, and as a heavy equipment operator for St. Lawrence County, retiring in 2020.

A proud member of the Teamsters Local 687 serving as Vice President for two terms, President of the Longshoremen's Union local 217-A Port of Ogdensburg, Shriners, and the Free & Accepted Masons in Waddington, Royal dedicated much of his life to his work and his community. He enjoyed farming, traveling, dining out, and most of all, spending time with his family, who will remember him for his kindness, work ethic, and infectious sense of humor.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners International or the White Church Cemetery. Condolences and fond memories may be shared online at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com