Carla Jan Nelson

Carla Nelson, beloved mother, grandmother, teacher, artist, writer, traveler, and collector of nick knacks, died suddenly last Saturday at the age of 63 (even though for some reason her driver’s license said she was 70). She is survived by her husband of 46 years, two sons, and six grandkids, and one very naughty standard poodle. She leaves behind a legacy of art, old books, and the world’s best apple pie that no one ever can seem to replicate. Carla grew up an air force brat, dragged from place to place by her father, Colonel Roper and her mom, Betty, from Okinawa to New Mexico, finally meeting her soul mate in Vallejo, CA in 1970. Shortly thereafter she said goodbye to him forever as her parents moved the family to Utah, but not even the Colonel could get in the way of true love, and Carla eventually married John Nelson in the summer of ‘76 on Mare Island. Carla spent her time on this world working various jobs that didn’t involve having to know technology, from ice cream shop clerk, to modeling in department stores, working the line at the Times Herald, dental office assistant, teaching art, and newspaper columnist. Her full-time profession, however, was being a mom, and that was something she truly thrived at. From teaching her sons (and herself, first) to throw a football, to painstaking hours on science projects, bake sales, Halloween costumes, and birthday cakes, Carla could be found at pretty much any point in her life doing something for her family. She passes on a love of life, a passion for ukulele playing, and a sixth sense of finding good, cheap wine. Later in life, Carla battled health problems like a lion tamer, cracking her whip at diabetes and cancer with a tenacity rarely seen. In the end it was her heart that gave out; we assume this was because she gave so much of it to others over the years there wasn’t enough left for herself. Her last words weren’t recorded, but for the sake of posterity, this is what she probably would have said: “Goodbye all, please dress me in something purple and don’t sell my dog.” In lieu of flowers, Carla would prefer you to toss some wildflower seeds somewhere on the roadside. Also, we have one standard poodle for sale (kidding).

Carla Jan Nelson

February 4, 1953 - April 22, 2023