Oren Melvin Nelson, 95, formerly of Elsmore, died Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, at his home in Toluca Lake, Calif.

Oren was born Feb. 18, 1917, at Elsmore, the son of Oscar and Rebecca Smading Nelson. He grew up in the Elsmore area where he attended South Fairview Grade School in Allen County. He was a farmer, had dairy cows, and owned and operated a milk route hauling milk from dairy farms to Neosho Valley Creamery at Erie for many years.

Oren married Nola Merle Lowe and they had three children before she preceded him in death in April of 1960.

On March 3, 1979, Oren married Pearl Draper Hunt and they made their home in Iola.

Pearl preceded him in death Nov. 29, 2010.

Survivors include his three children, Melvin Nelson and wife, Phyllis, of Moran, Eileen James and husband, Jim, of Garnett, and Ron Nelson and wife, Eileen, of rural Bonner Springs; three stepsons, Bob Hunt and wife, Nita, of Marysville, Ohio, Don Hunt and partner, Charles Reilly, of Toluca Lake, Calif., and Ken Hunt and wife, Carla of Iola; sister-In-Law: Virginia Nelson of Olathe; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola, where the family will receive friends an hour prior to the service.

Burial will be Bethel Cemetery, rural Erie.

Memorials are suggested to Allen County Animal Rescue Facility (ACARF) or American Heart Association and may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com