Lucy Annette Nelson was born Oct. 16, 1929 in Tonkawa, Okla., during the dust bowl. She died Jan. 20, 2013.
At an early age her family moved to Rosedale, Ill., where she attended a one-room school house. She graduated from Jersey County High School and went on to become a registered nurse, graduating from Alton Memorial School of Nursing. After nurses’ training she met and married the love of her life, Charles Nelson. They were married in St. Charles, Mo., in 1949. She and Charles worked together incorporating Pioneer Construction Company and raising their family of seven children.
In 1974 they moved to Moab, Utah where they purchased King’s Bottom Ranch and the “Egg Ranch”. Lucy’s Strictly Fresh Eggs were distributed to all the restaurants and grocery stores in town. In 1977 they started Western Home Sales. For the next eleven years they worked together selling new and used mobile homes. Side-by-side they owned and operated several mobile home parks and developed Kane Springs Campground.
Lucy’s unswerving faith in Jesus was demonstrated in the way she lived her life through praying, serving and loving her family, friends and community. She was also dedicated in supporting missions at home and abroad.
She survived by her husband Charles, her children Connie (Craig) Heath, of Fallon, Nev., Jim (Brenda) Nelson, Debbie Nelson, Ed (Debbie) Nelson, Anne (Larry) Walden, all of Moab, Ruth (Mike) Boersma of Ceres, CA, Mary (Kevin) Conrad of Fruita, Colo., ten grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Minnie Stafford and her infant brother Marvin Stafford.
