In Woodbridge, March 25, 2001, Ethel Beard Nelson 92, formerly of Pelham Ave. Hamden, wife of the late Clarence Stephen Nelson, mother of Janet Geoghegan and her husband Robert of Tolland, Karen N. Sutera of Quaker Hill, CT, Curtis R. Nelson and his wife Pamela of Gales Ferry, Charles E. Nelson and his wife Patricia of Sandy, Utah, Roger S. Nelson of Brooklyn, CT and Thomas R. Nelson and his wife Bonnie of Kynlon, NJ. Sister of Lois Ehler and her husband Irwin of South Carolina and Shelton, Shirley Anthony and her husband Charles of West Haven and the late Edwin Beard. Also survived by a sister-in-law Marjorie Beard of Cheshire, 10 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. She was born Oct. 24, 1908 in West Haven a daughter of the late Lester R. and Mabel Patterson Beard. She had been a secretary in the Forestry Graduate School at Yale. Funeral service will be private. Arrangements with BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden.