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July 23, 1939 – October 20, 2018
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Obituary for Lennie Gayle Nelson
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Lennie Gayle Nelson passed quietly in her sleep at her home in Walling, Tennessee, leaving behind her daughter Katherine (Barry) Gregg of Mount Vernon, Ohio; son Jim (Diane) Nelson of Seattle, Washington; grandchildren Allison Nelson and Troy Nelson of Seattle, Washington; and sister Carole (Lawrence) Dye of Gallatin, Tennessee.
Gayle was born at home in Hickman County, Tennessee, and attended Freed Hardeman College near Nashville. Prior to marrying Jerry Nelson, who recently passed on May 10, 2018, she was working part-time as a model and going to beauty school. After their marriage in 1959, they moved to North Bend, Oregon, where they had two children. After a few interim moves, they ultimately settled in Newark, Ohio, in 1964.
Gayle was a stay-at-home mother for 10 years until she took a sales associate job at Sears. She completed her Associate's degree at the Ohio State University Newark branch and was employed at the Licking County Services Center where she worked for 15 years.
In 1990, Gayle and Jerry began their retirement years by crisscrossing the country in a camper visiting friends and family. They lived for a few years in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, but the cold and snowy winters were just too much for them. They ultimately bought land and built their dream home in Walling, Tennessee, in 1997.
Gayle was an accomplished artist in a variety of mediums including oils and acrylics, sculpture, pottery, crochet and sewing. She played the piano and organ, had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. Gayle was a wonderful cook. She was a voracious reader, reading thousands of books over her lifetime. She loved to travel. Jerry and Gayle took many vacations, going as far as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Hawaii, and cruises in the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, and through the Panama Canal.
Gayle was a strong woman, and she had a beautiful smile. She was a three-time cancer survivor: breast, colon, and endometrial cancers. Right up until she passed, she was going to lunch with friends and family, calling and texting.
Gayle loved life, loved her family and friends and was a blessing to so many people.
Funeral services will be held at 3pm on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with Mike Steakley and Ron Dyer officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:30pm until time of the service at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made to the family at oaklawnmemorial.com
Gayle was born at home in Hickman County, Tennessee, and attended Freed Hardeman College near Nashville. Prior to marrying Jerry Nelson, who recently passed on May 10, 2018, she was working part-time as a model and going to beauty school. After their marriage in 1959, they moved to North Bend, Oregon, where they had two children. After a few interim moves, they ultimately settled in Newark, Ohio, in 1964.
Gayle was a stay-at-home mother for 10 years until she took a sales associate job at Sears. She completed her Associate's degree at the Ohio State University Newark branch and was employed at the Licking County Services Center where she worked for 15 years.
In 1990, Gayle and Jerry began their retirement years by crisscrossing the country in a camper visiting friends and family. They lived for a few years in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, but the cold and snowy winters were just too much for them. They ultimately bought land and built their dream home in Walling, Tennessee, in 1997.
Gayle was an accomplished artist in a variety of mediums including oils and acrylics, sculpture, pottery, crochet and sewing. She played the piano and organ, had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. Gayle was a wonderful cook. She was a voracious reader, reading thousands of books over her lifetime. She loved to travel. Jerry and Gayle took many vacations, going as far as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Hawaii, and cruises in the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, and through the Panama Canal.
Gayle was a strong woman, and she had a beautiful smile. She was a three-time cancer survivor: breast, colon, and endometrial cancers. Right up until she passed, she was going to lunch with friends and family, calling and texting.
Gayle loved life, loved her family and friends and was a blessing to so many people.
Funeral services will be held at 3pm on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with Mike Steakley and Ron Dyer officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:30pm until time of the service at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made to the family at oaklawnmemorial.com
To send flowers to the family of Lennie Gayle Nelson, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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