Dr. Gary Wayne Nelson Obituary (1941

Dr. Gary Wayne Nelson, 79, passed away peacefully in his Huntington Beach home of 52 years on Sunday, September 20, 2020. Also known as Doctor, Elder, Bishop, Brother, Dad, and Papa, Gary was born to Beda Louise Burgeson and Max William Nelson on May 25, 1941 in Bell, California and was the 2nd of 8 children. After graduating from Glendale High School and attending 2 years of school at USC, Gary served in the North British Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1961-1963). He married Mary Helen L Hansen for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple. They were blessed with six children. Gary graduated from USC Dental School in 1967 and practiced for 41 years in Torrance and Huntington Beach. Gary was a pillar of the community serving as a Trustee of the Board for the Huntington Beach City School District for thirteen years, starting in 1979 and President of the Board on four occasions. He served on numerous advisory councils and volunteered for the Boy Scouts of America including serving as the Pacifica District Chairman. His children fondly remember him being a classroom volunteer teaching dental health to elementary school students. He was always very involved with the church, serving two times as a bishop in the Huntington Beach First Ward and later in the Huntington Beach 8th Ward. He taught seminary, and Gary and Mary served two full-time missions together in Boston, Massachusetts and at the Huntington Beach Institute of Religion. Of all the titles Gary received, his favorites were Dad and Papa. He was a man of great integrity and lived true to his belief in Jesus Christ. Gary leaves a legacy of hard work, service, faith, and love. Although he will be deeply missed, his family looks forward to a joyous reunion and takes comfort in the truth that families can be together forever. Gary is survived by his wife, Mary; his children: Michelle (Mike) Stevenson, Jennifer (Andrew) Boyack, Tyler (Kristen) Nelson, Suzanne Liddle, Wendy (Abram) Cordell, and Clark (Natalie) Nelson; his siblings: Bill (Sharon) Nelson, Carol (David) Hansen, Joyce Curry, Jean Anderson, Chris (Steve) Dillenbeck, Richard (Marilee) Nelson; his 31 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. Condolences may be expressed at www.bergmortuary.com.