Nelson Isaiah Bezanson1

M, #22401, b. 2 April 1935, d. 12 September 2015
Reference: Bezansons from Nova Scotia ID # 446.2
Father*Lawrence Melbourne Bezanson1 b. 22 May 1899, d. Feb 1952
Mother*Nina B. Barkhouse1 b. c 1902, d. 1979

Family

Uda Marion Dunlop
Relationship4th great-grandson of Jean George Bezanson
Nelson Bezanson
     Nelson Isaiah Bezanson was born on 2 April 1935.1 He was a missionary.3,1 He married Uda Marion Dunlop on 19 May 1956 at Somerville, New Brunswick. He was 21.4,1 Nelson Isaiah Bezanson died on 12 September 2015 at Brantford, Ontario, at age 80.5 He was buried on 18 September 2015 in Paris Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario.5

     Obituary, 14 September 2015:
BEZANSON, Nelson I., died peacefully in his sleep at home on Saturday, September 12, 2015.

Dearly loved and deeply missed husband of Uda for 59 wonderful years; father of Cheri (Jim), Mark (Florence), Bryon (Janice), and Kevin (Rachael), grandfather to Mandi (Eddie), Missy (Kyle), Ricki (Ben), Jessi (Adam), Brandon, Taylor, Josiah, Simon, and Naomi; great-grandfather to Avery, Aislinn, Ben, Trustin, Sophie, Leila, Samuel, Addelynn, Joshua, Levi, and Chloe.

From a farm in Albion, Maine, his deep faith led him with Uda into service as missionaries with TEAM in Chad, Africa for 15 years, and then to roles in the International and Canadian headquarters. He worked and lived with integrity, commitment, and a twinkle in his eye.

Friends will be received at the Dennis Toll Funeral Home, 55 Charing Cross Street, Brantford on Thursday from 6 – 8 pm. Visitation will resume at Central Baptist Church, 300 Fairview Dr., Brantford, on Friday, September 18, 2015 from 10 – 11 am, with the funeral service to follow at 11 am. A private interment will follow the reception at Paris Cemetery.5

     From an online profile of Nelson:
Nelson Bezanson is associated with The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) of Canada, Inc., an evangelical mission agency which helps churches send missionaries to plant reproducing churches in other nations.

Nelson and his wife, Uda, served in Chad from 1957 to 1972, first under the Sudan United Mission, North American Branch, which merged with TEAM in 1969. They worked primarily with Jeunesse Evangelique Africaine, a youth movement which continues to reach out to thousands of Chadian young people. Nelson also administered TEAM's hospital in Bebalem for three years. In 1972 Nelson joined TEAM's home office staff in Wheaton, Illinois. His first assignment was to provide assistance in the general director's office and the candidate department. He later coordinated TEAM's summer program and created TEAM's special short-term program. On September 1, 1982, Nelson was appointed candidate secretary for TEAM Canada and was based in Toronto. Since moving to Calgary in 1990, Nelson has launched a tentmaker program for TEAM International and a Special TEAM's program for TEAM Canada. As Candidate Director, Nelson Coordinates TEAM's recruitment program across Canada and travels extensively, visiting schools and churches and counseling with individuals.

Nelson says that from an early age the Lord impressed upon his heart that He wanted him in missions. He dedicated his life to the Lord when he was 17. He committed his life to missionary service in Chad in his third year at New Brunswick Bible Institute in Victoria, New Brunswick. A verse that the Lord has given Nelson and Uda is Revelation 3:7, "What I open no one can shut, and what I shut no one can open." This verse attests to the way God has opened door after door, giving Nelson and Uda assurance that God wanted them to serve Him, first in Chad and then in the home office.

Nelson and Uda have four children: one daughter, Cheryl, and three sons, Mark, Bryon, and Kevin.3

Census Summary

1930
Birth
1935
1940
Census
1940
1950
Census
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Death
2015

Census, Residence

Census1940Nelson Isaiah Bezanson appeared on the census of 1940 at West Pond Road, Albion, Maine, in the household of Lawrence Melbourne Bezanson and Nina B. Barkhouse with George Melbourne Bezanson, Robert Lawrence Bezanson and Amy Leola Bezanson.6
Census1950Nelson Isaiah Bezanson appeared on the census of 1950 at China Albion Road, Albion, Maine, in the household of Lawrence Melbourne Bezanson and Nina B. Barkhouse with Bernice Iva Bezanson.7
Last Edited4 Oct 2015

Citations

  1. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 164, 233.
  2. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 164.
  3. [S499] Unknown compiler, "Nelson Bezanson Profile", September 9, 2001.
  4. [S860] Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, "Vital Statistics from Government Records", Marriage Certificate; Microfilm F23405, Carleton County, Code B4/1956, Number 1995, Nelson Isiah Bezanson and Uda Marion Dunlop, 19 May 1956.
  5. [S680] Nelson I. Bezanson Death Notice, Dennis Toll Funeral Home (Brantford, Ontario), accessed September 2015.
  6. [S4] 1940 U.S. Federal Census; Albion, Kennebec, Maine; ED: 6-1; Sheet: 7B; Image: 14; Lines: 77-80; Sheet: 8A; Image: 15; Lines: 1-5.
  7. [S4] 1950 U.S. Federal Census; Albion, Kennebec, Maine; Roll: 3819; ED: 6-1; Sheet: 21.

Lima Venus Gray1

F, #22413, b. 14 August 1918
Father*Merton Francis Gray2 b. c 1888
Mother*Alberta Bezanson2 b. 15 Mar 1899, d. 1972

Family

William Goodhue d. 2 Feb 2000
Relationship4th great-granddaughter of Jean George Bezanson
     Lima Venus Gray was also known as Lyna Venus Gray.2 She was born on 14 August 1918 at Waltham, Massachusetts.1,2 She married William Goodhue on 28 March 1941 at Boston, Massachusetts. She was 22.2,3

Census Summary

1910
Birth
1918
1920
Census
1920

Census, Residence

Census1920Lima Venus Gray appeared on the census of 1920 at 21 Charles Street, Wellesley, Massachusetts, in the household of Merton Francis Gray and Alberta Bezanson.4
LivedLima Venus Gray lived in Freeport, Hempstead, New York.2
Last Edited23 Apr 2023

Citations

  1. [S954] FamilySearch, Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920, Lima Venus Gray; Birth Date: 14 August 1918; Waltham, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Father: Merton F Gray; Mother: Alberta Bezanson.
  2. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 166.
  3. [S584] Chuck Assadourian, "Bezanson Information," e-mail to John Cardinal, July 15, 2002.
  4. [S4] 1920 U.S. Federal Census; Wellesley, Norfolk, Massachusetts; Roll: T625_724; ED: 275; Page: 16A.

Burton Angevine Gray1

M, #22415, b. 1920, d. 1983
Father*Merton Francis Gray1 b. c 1888
Mother*Alberta Bezanson1 b. 15 Mar 1899, d. 1972
Relationship4th great-grandson of Jean George Bezanson
     Burton Angevine Gray was born in 1920.1 He served in the military in World War II as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was in the "death march" at Quadelcanal.1 He died in 1983.1
Last Edited13 Jul 2002

Citations

  1. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 166.

Bernice Elizabeth Gray1

F, #22416, b. 21 February 1922
Father*Merton Francis Gray1 b. c 1888
Mother*Alberta Bezanson1 b. 15 Mar 1899, d. 1972

Family

Nathan Costa
Relationship4th great-granddaughter of Jean George Bezanson
     Bernice Elizabeth Gray was born on 21 February 1922 at Wayland, Massachusetts.2,1 She married Nathan Costa.1

     From Charles Assadourian, "Harriet (Harriet Alice Simmons) basically raised my great aunt Bernice (Bernice Elizabeth Gray)".
Last Edited23 Apr 2023

Citations

  1. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 166.
  2. [S954] FamilySearch, Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920, Bernice E Gray; Birth Date: 21 February 1922; Wayland, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Father: Milton F Gray; Mother: Alice A Bezanson.