I wish I could have been there to spread my well wishes to sending him off but i know he knows I'm thinking of him in WI. He was my 'uncle' Kent--the crazy old funny guy who loved to use his camera, loved kitties, and dearly loved the cubs. We go back...

I wish I could have been there to spread my well wishes to sending him off but i know he knows I'm thinking of him in WI. He was my 'uncle' Kent--the crazy old funny guy who loved to use his camera, loved kitties, and dearly loved the cubs. We go back to before I was born when he and my Mom took a ceramics class together in the 70's in ReDondo Beach. It's always hard to imagine that you'll still get to see or speak to him when you see his e-mail address in your address book and you want to send off something but he's not there. Yet you're not quite ready to remove it from the list. I'm glad he had such a good life filled with the people who loved him most--and looking back we can all certainly say he lived his life well, real well. That's something I hope I can achieve. Good bye for now Uncle Kent, I love you, but it's not forever.

Posted by Tricia L (guest) on Sun 16 Mar 2008 09:09:11 PM PDT

My friend "Lion"

Lion is truly a great guy and friend that I will miss until we meet again. His smile and outlook on life is one to be admired and at the same time feel jealous! Life to him was great and he never forgot to stop and look at the little pleasures of life. ...

Lion is truly a great guy and friend that I will miss until we meet again. His smile and outlook on life is one to be admired and at the same time feel jealous! Life to him was great and he never forgot to stop and look at the little pleasures of life. I went for walks with him in
Anza Borrego,he never overlooked the little joys of life. If only we could all do the same. My life is fuller having known him...Godspeed my friend, Till we meet again.

Posted by Postman (guest) on Wed 12 Mar 2008 08:27:44 PM PDT

The Great Beyond

A very likeable guy who will be sorely missed. He was an
asset to our photo group and I know he enjoyed taking photos and sharing them with the world.

Hope he's still doing what he likes up there in the great beyond.

Posted by Dan Chusid (guest) on Mon 10 Mar 2008 11:55:32 PM PDT

richard garcia sr.

MY SON AND I WERE LUCKY TO MEET AND GET TO KNOW LION , ON A COUPLE OF OFF ROAD ADVENTURES,WITH TOM "BADLANDS ADVENTURES" WE HIT IT OFF RIGHT AWAY, AS IAM SURE EVERY ONE THAT MET HIM DID,
RICHARD GARCIA SR.

Posted by Guest on Mon 10 Mar 2008 12:24:38 PM PDT

102+ RSVPs already! :-) Keep 'em coming

Since I sent out the announcement on Sat morning, we already have over 102 RSVP's. Thanks! Keep 'em coming! This is going to be a great event! Lion would have loved it. Anyone who wants to say a few words, or to share a memory will be welcome to do so...

Since I sent out the announcement on Sat morning, we already have over 102 RSVP's. Thanks! Keep 'em coming! This is going to be a great event! Lion would have loved it. Anyone who wants to say a few words, or to share a memory will be welcome to do so on Saturday, and of course here in the comments area!
RSVP now to Montego

Posted by Montego on Sun 09 Mar 2008 10:28:57 PM PDT

Lion was free of spirit, full of life and a great friend to all that knew him. Always there when someone needed him, always off exploring something new, always learning. I have many wonderful memories of Lion that I will keep dear to my heart. You...

Lion was free of spirit, full of life and a great friend to all that knew him. Always there when someone needed him, always off exploring something new, always learning. I have many wonderful memories of Lion that I will keep dear to my heart. You will be missed. Sorry I wasn't in touch lately!

Posted by Santa Fe (guest) on Sun 09 Mar 2008 12:07:33 PM PDT

Lion Memorial Gathering SAT 3/15/08 (Please RSVP) ..

Hello,

With a heavy heart I sadly report that Lion passed away last week at home in his sleep of an apparent heart attack. He lived a great life, and will be sorely missed by his many many friends. Lion danced to the beat of his own...

Hello,

With a heavy heart I sadly report that Lion passed away last week at home in his sleep of an apparent heart attack. He lived a great life, and will be sorely missed by his many many friends. Lion danced to the beat of his own drummer, and as someone pointed out to me yesterday; Some people leave this world with their music still inside them, but not the Lion! He was a real individual character.

There will be a memorial service for Lion on Saturday 3/15/08 at 2pm. We hope you can attend. Please spread the word to others that need to know. All of Lion's friends are welcome & invited, so pass the word. PLEASE RSVP to Montego2@Roughwheelers.com with your name(s) & how many attending so we can try to get the correct amount of food. We need to know ASAP, (immediately would be great).

Please plan to attend. Lion would enjoy knowing that all his friends got together for a party in his honor and memory. Friends meant the world to Lion. And I can almost guarantee that you will meet some fun & interesting people.

When: 2pm Saturday March 15, 2008. (also see event #2 below)

Where: Las Brisas Mexican Restaurant
(huge party room & patio with a view is downstairs)

1969 Artesia Blvd (at Green)
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

This is just a 3 or 4 miles south of LAX airport.

Google Map:
Google Map of Memorial Gathering

We have the room for as much as 5 hours, so plan to arrive at 2pm and stay if you can. If you have Lion photos or memorabilia to display, a Lion story, some words to say, an especially Lion-ishly written message, or anything to share, please bring it. If you have some music that Lion liked, please feel free to bring the cd (but I don't know if we will have a way to play it). Participation is encouraged. You may of course take your items back with you when you leave.

Dress casually. If you want to wear short pants and a red shirt that's perfectly ok. So are Hawaiian shirts. Or formal wear. Whatever you feel is appropriate with respect to Lion.

LION EVENT NUMBER TWO:
There will also be another Lion Memorial gathering. In the near future we will be doing a 4x4 desert trip and ashes will be scattered. The wildflowers are really great this year! If you want to be included in this, tell Montego2@Roughwheelers.com to include you in the 4x4 Lion memorial announcement. This event date is TBD, but will be not be before 3/20/08. It will be a weekend trip.

Please share your memories at the Lion Memorial website:
http://www.roughwheelers.com/pix/v/lion/

Hope to see you soon (and Please RSVP)
Montego
310-722-2966

Posted by Montego on Sat 08 Mar 2008 11:33:53 AM PST

I met Lion only twice, at two photo shoots we both attended with the San Diego Photography Meetup groups. He was an instantly likable fellow who one felt immediately comfortable around, but then again, I'm preaching to the choir here! He will be missed ...

I met Lion only twice, at two photo shoots we both attended with the San Diego Photography Meetup groups. He was an instantly likable fellow who one felt immediately comfortable around, but then again, I'm preaching to the choir here! He will be missed by us down in San Diego as well.

Posted by Andy (guest) on Sat 08 Mar 2008 03:08:19 AM PST

Lion

I knew Lion from the monthly photo shoots I organize for the San Diego Photography Meetup Group. I met Lion last year in June at our Wild Animal Park Photo Shoot. Form the very beginning he was at ease with us and he was talking and joking. He soon...

I knew Lion from the monthly photo shoots I organize for the San Diego Photography Meetup Group. I met Lion last year in June at our Wild Animal Park Photo Shoot. Form the very beginning he was at ease with us and he was talking and joking. He soon became a regular fixture at our monthly shoots. He was also very gracious in thanking me for organizing the events. We exchanged comments and messages on our photo web sites regularly and he left lots of kind and funny comments. Even though we only each other less than a year, it felt like much longer. I can say with absolute certainty that everybody in our group liked Lion very much. We will all miss him. Attached a group photo of Lion's first meeting with our group.

Posted by Walter O. Koenig (guest) on Fri 07 Mar 2008 04:54:36 PM PST

lion the king

lion was one of the best creatchers on earth and i to will miss him very much and what can't you say about an all American guy like that i am sure that he loved everyone as everyone loved him good by for now lion until we meat again my friend

Posted by Dennis (Horsefly) Griffin (guest) on Fri 07 Mar 2008 09:42:41 AM PST

Lion Video is really great!

Thanks to Spud for Lion's Audition video when he tried out for the On The Rocks TV show. Great job Spud! You really captured some Lion essence. RRRRR! Lion Audition Video...

Thanks to Spud for Lion's Audition video when he tried out for the On The Rocks TV show. Great job Spud! You really captured some Lion essence. RRRRR! Lion Audition Video (medium)

Montego

Posted by Montego on Thu 06 Mar 2008 10:29:45 PM PST

The King of the Outdoors!!

A very special man indeed. I had the pleasure to meet Lion in person at a seminar held at Silvios Camera shop last year. Prior to that we've exchanged emails and IM's about camera's, photography and Lion's love for the outdoors. Truly an interesting...

A very special man indeed. I had the pleasure to meet Lion in person at a seminar held at Silvios Camera shop last year. Prior to that we've exchanged emails and IM's about camera's, photography and Lion's love for the outdoors. Truly an interesting character!! I have enjoyed his many. MANY photos, and the comments he's posted on mine. I will miss you my friend, thank you for being you!

To Lion's Family-My heart goes out to you, and I just want you to know he touched many people with his photography and his cheerful outlook on life!
God Bless
Sally Flowers (pbase.com/flowers31)

Posted by Sally Flowers (guest) on Thu 06 Mar 2008 06:39:06 PM PST

Lion will be missed..

Lion will truely be missed. He was a good guy to have as a friend.

RIP Lion......

Posted by Sam Wagstaff (guest) on Thu 06 Mar 2008 05:01:08 PM PST

I will miss my good friend R. Kent "Lion" Nelson. Kent and I met in St Charles Il in 1961.
Kent was driving a customized red 57 chevy then, and continued to be a car person, especially 4x4's all his life. He invited me to join the Roughwheelers in...

I will miss my good friend R. Kent "Lion" Nelson. Kent and I met in St Charles Il in 1961.
Kent was driving a customized red 57 chevy then, and continued to be a car person, especially 4x4's all his life. He invited me to join the Roughwheelers in 1973, and although we lived most of our lives over 1000 miles apart, we maintained a friendship all these years. I last saw Kent at my house in Colorado, and he even put up some pics on pbase on that trip. I talked to him two weeks ago, and all was good then. He was a surperb camera man, and shared some of his recent work on the pbase site. Rest well my friend.

Posted by Jeff Hill (guest) on Thu 06 Mar 2008 04:33:02 PM PST

Godspeed my freind

lion was a unique and wonderful individual in this world, am i'm darn sure he is gonna be one in the next! i can't even remember how far back i met lion. he was just the kinda person that made you feel you knew him forever from day one! i still rember a...

lion was a unique and wonderful individual in this world, am i'm darn sure he is gonna be one in the next! i can't even remember how far back i met lion. he was just the kinda person that made you feel you knew him forever from day one! i still rember a calico ride where he came back from doran and i was wondering where his factory tire carrier went, appaerently "it jumped ship!",or sitting in a resturant in moab,or sharing a beer, or a trail, or,or.. i will miss you mr lion, though i am glad to say that though it hurts to know you are gone, it would hurt even more to not have known you................
Godspeed on you next voyage!

Posted by mikey l (guest) on Thu 06 Mar 2008 03:19:51 PM PST

I am shocked and sad to hear of the death of my friend Kent Lion Nelson. Kent and I have been friends since meeting in St Charles Il in 1961. Kent drove a customized red 57 Chevy then, and we shared interest in cars. As most of you know, he was a...

I am shocked and sad to hear of the death of my friend Kent Lion Nelson. Kent and I have been friends since meeting in St Charles Il in 1961. Kent drove a customized red 57 Chevy then, and we shared interest in cars. As most of you know, he was a surperb man with the camera, and in later years he shared his pictures on pbase. Kent and I visited each other many times over the years, and when I moved to Calif he convinced me to join the Roughwheelers in 1973. Most of our lives we have lived over 1000 miles apart, but have maintained our friendship. I spoke to Kent on the phone about a week ago and all was OK at that time. He will be missed.

Posted by Jeff Hill (guest) on Thu 06 Mar 2008 10:58:19 AM PST

Kent was my class mate and good friend of mine. I will dearly miss him.

Posted by Ronald Williams (guest) on Thu 06 Mar 2008 10:29:04 AM PST

I'll miss you, Lion!

You'll be greatly missed here on Earth. I'll hoist a IPA for you =)
Carol

Posted by Carol Horsley (guest) on Thu 06 Mar 2008 10:04:28 AM PST