Lawrence Douglas Neilson, 80, of Sweet Home, passed away Friday, April 11, 2025. He was born February 10, 1945 to Hazel (Lawrence) and David Neilson in Needham, Massachusetts.

After graduating high school in 1963, Larry came to Oregon. He drove with a friend to Hayward, California in a 1957 Chevrolet. In 1966, Larry was inducted into the Marines. He earned a national defense medal, Vietnamese service medal, one star Vietnamese campaign medal (with device) before being discharged in 1967. Larry worked and retired from Naval Air Station in Alameda, CA. He took an early retirement when President Clinton closed the base in 1992.

He lived in Union City, Castro Valley and San Lorenzo, California and moved to Sweet Home in 1995. Larry and his wife, Janice, owned Fraga Farm Goat Cheese which kept them busy tending to the goats.

Larry helped manage the Sweet Home Farmers Market. He also enjoyed woodworking and fishing.

Larry is survived by his wife, Janice Neilson of Sweet Home; daughter, Renee Spotts of Texas; son, Chris Neilson of Reno; step-son, Joe Ruggiero and daughter in law, Sara Struminski of Sweet Home; sister, Wendy Twitchell of Kennebunkport, Maine; brother-in-law, Bruce Martin of Kennebunkport, Maine, four grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his brother, David Neilson and sister-in-law, Jackie Neilson both in 2024.

A memorial service with military honors will be 1 pm, Thursday, May 1st at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements www.sweethomefuneral.com.