Nelson Becker
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Nelson Becker, a Logansport attorney who has been a lobbyist since leaving the Indiana House.
Nelson Becker was House speaker more than 20 years ago (1986)
Becker, Nelson J - Small Sabatini Becker Logansport, IN
admitted to bar, 1964, Indiana; also admitted
to practice before U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana. Preparatory
education, Tulane University of Louisiana (B.B.A., 1962); legal education, Tulane University Law
School (J.D., 1964). State Representative, Indiana, 1972-84. Member: Cass County (President,
1976-78), Indiana State and American Bar Associations. |
Nelson Jaeger Becker Birth September 16, 1940 Logansport, Cass County, Indiana
Death 7 Apr 2017 Naples, Collier County, Florida BURIAL Mount Hope Cemetery
Logansport, Cass County, Indiana
Nelson Jaeger Becker, 76, sailed into heaven on April 7, 2017, in Naples, Florida.
Nelson was born September 16, 1940, the son of Edwin H. and Mary Lewis (Nelson)
Becker in Logansport.
On December 28, 1984, at First United Methodist Church of Logansport, Indiana, he
married Dixie (Logan) Becker, who survives in Logansport.
Nelson was a 1958 graduate of Logansport High School and received his Bachelor of
Business Administration from Tulane University in 1962, and his Doctor of
Jurisprudence in 1964 from Tulane University Law School. He was a 1958 graduate
of the Culver Summer Naval School and member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
He served in the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1968 as a JAG officer, attaining
the rank of captain.
Nelson’s passion in life was the law, the legislative process, service, and politics.
He practiced law in Logansport from 1968 to the date of his death.
He served six terms as State Representative of Cass and Carroll Counties from
1972 to 1984. He was Majority Whip of Indiana House of Representatives from 1977 to 1980
and was Speaker Pro Tempore of Indiana House of Representatives from 1980 to 1984.
He was an accomplished lobbyist from 1984-2011. He was an honored recipient of Indiana’s
highest civilian award – The Sagamore of the Wabash.
He was a former member of the Board of Directors of Logansport Savings Bank and a former
member of the Board of Directors of First National Bank of Logansport. He was Past President
of the Cass County YMCA Board of Directors and United Fund Board of Directors and current
member of First United Methodist Church, Elks and American Legion. He was a participant
in the National Security Forum of the U.S. War College in 1976.
Nelson loved Lake Maxinkuckee where he spent many summers with his family, sailing, boating
and watching the sunsets. He was an active member in the Maxinkuckee Yacht Club and served
as its commodore in 1979.
Nelson dearly loved his wife, brother and sister, stepbrother and stepsisters, children,
grandchildren, and many close nieces and nephews. He was a dedicated family man, wonderful
husband, father and grandfather and was usually the life of any gathering. He just loved to
be around people, especially his friends and family.
Surviving are his wife Dixie, Logansport; sons, Edwin Bray (Leyla) Becker of Oak Hill, Virginia;
Nelson Merritt (Jill) Becker of Zionsville; Theodore Lewis (Karen) Becker of Simpsonville, South
Carolina; Michael Sean (Deanna) Nicholas of Logansport, and Seth Andrew (Monica) Nicholas of
Indianapolis.
Also, grandchildren Grace Nazli, Edwin Austin, Andrew Merritt, William Nelson, Anne Elyse, Tyler
Lewis, Emily Kathryn, Julia Bray, Coy Michael, Bryce Logan, Evvie Faith, Corinne Ava, Owen Jaeger,
Corbin Roe and Lila Katherine.
His sister, Mary Anna (Dick) Swennumson; sister-in-law, Judith F. Becker; stepsisters, Patricia
Cleveland, Linda Flannery and Margaret Ann Rothman; stepbrother, Loyal (Margaret) Wilson; and
many special nieces and nephews, also survive.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin H. and Mary Lewis Becker; brother E. Allen Becker;
stepmother, Margaret Ann (Frushour Wilson) Becker and grandson, Cameron Bray Becker.
A funeral service and celebration of Nelson’s life will be at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, April 19,
2017, at First United Methodist Church, Logansport, with Pastor Don Cline officiating.
Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, at Kroeger Funeral Home,
Logansport, and also from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, at the church.
Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, with the Cass County Honor Guard and uniformed members
of the United States Air Force providing military honors.
In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to one of the following in Nelson’s name: First United
Methodist Church, 800 East Broadway, Logansport, IN 46947; Cass County Family Y, 905 East Broadway,
Logansport, IN 46947, or Cass County Community Foundation, P. O. Box 441, Logansport, IN 46947.
married Feb 1963 New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana Theodora Merritt “Teddy” Bray BIRTH 9 May 1941
North Stratford, New Hampshire DEATH 25 Dec 2019 BURIAL Marion National Cemetery Marion, Grant
County, Indiana; divorced
Theodora Merritt "Teddy" Bray, of Warren, IN, died Dec. 25, 2019.
Ms. Bray grew up in New Hampshire, West Virginia and Florida. She graduated from St.
Petersburg High School in 1959. She received her Bachelor of Science from Tulane
University.
She lived in Logansport from 1969 to 1985. While in Logansport she served as an active
president of Tri Kappa service sorority for several years.
She moved to Clemson, SC, in 1985. She received her Master of Fine Arts from Clemson
University in 1988 and went on to be a professor of art and design at Winthrop College.
She also received an RN degree in 1990 from Tri County Technical College. She established PAL,
a patient advocate program, in Brevard, NC and volunteered with hospice care. She and her h
usband spent 25 years together living in South Carolina, New Hampshire and North Carolina
before settling in Warren.
She was born in North Stratford, NH, to Dr. Walter A. and Anne Lee Bray of Colebrook, NH.
She married Robert Douglass Clark Jr. on July 23, 1994, and he preceded her in death.
She is survived by three sons, Edwin "Bray" (Leyla) Becker, Nelson "Merritt" (Jill) Becker
and Theodore L. (Karen) Becker; two stepsons, Kenneth D. (Micki) Clark and Kyle B. (Stephanie)
Clark; two sisters, Karen E. (Bill) Hammel and Jacquelyn L. Bray; 12 grandchildren. Andrew M.
Becker, Tyler L. Becker, William N. Becker, Anne E. Becker, Grace N. Becker, Emily K. Becker;
Edwin A. Becker, Julia B. Becker, Alexandra E. Clark, Taylor S. Clark, Bennett D. Clark and
Adelle W. Clark.
She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Cameron B. Becker.
Glancy-H.Brown & Son Funeral Home, Warren.
Their children:
Edwin Bray Becker
Nelson Merritt Becker
Theodore Lewis Becker
married 2nd December 28, 1984 Logansport, Indiana Dixie Lee Logan daughter of
James R. Logan & Donna L. Landis married 1st Michael S Nicholas