Nina Webster Shelton

Nina Webster Shelton
Nina Webster Shelton, AKA "The Swimsuit Lady", 77, of Meridian, passed away on December 14, 2014, surrounded by loving family and friends. Nina had a contagious love for life; she wanted to lead and inspire others to live life to the fullest.
Nina was born in Bangor, Maine, where she was raised with a large extended family. As a child she developed a love of learning and for the outdoors. She graduated from the State University of New York at Brockport with a Bachelor of Science in Education, specializing in Health and Physical Education in 1960. Following graduation from college, she drove by herself across the U.S. for graduate school at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. In 1961, she graduated with a Masters in Physical Education from WSU. Following graduation, Nina worked as a teacher in Lake Oswego, Oregon prior to moving to Boise in 1962.
Nina created strong and lasting relationships with many people over her 52-years in Boise. She enjoyed playing cards with friends and family, going out to eat, and entertaining friends in her home. She maintained an extensive network of friends developed over the years.
Swimming was an important part of Nina's life. She believed every child should know how to swim, including her four daughters. She participated in Masters Swimming, spent many years officiating swim meets, and spent countless hours pool-side cheering for her children who swam for the Boise YMCA Swim Team. Keeping four girls suited for swimming was not easy or inexpensive in Boise during the 70's. This led Nina to order swimsuits for her girls, sell them to other team members, and travel to swim meets to sell them from her car. Her business grew rapidly and Nina opened the Swim and Run Shop in 1983. Her store specializes in helping customers find the right swimming apparel for vacations, casual exercise, and competitive athletes.
Nina's excellence and leadership in business was celebrated in 2010 when she won the Trailblazer Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners. Nina was nominated for this award by members of her LEADs club, a small business networking organization. Nina enjoyed mentoring and supporting young women to help them meet their full potential.
Nina loved traveling with friends and family, always looking for opportunities to learn new things and enjoy life with those she loved. Her travel often encompassed water based activities, including white-water rafting, Marlin fishing in Mexico, river cruises in Europe, cruising the Alaskan islands, swimming with the dolphins, and enjoying the beaches of Mexico, Fiji, Grand Cayman, Hawaii, and San Diego.
It has been said that a woman dies the way she lived. Nina passed with a fighting spirit; portraying the epitome of dignity and respect throughout her four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Nina was a force to be celebrated and reckoned with. She provided a gift to others - demonstrating a force and clarity to persevere and accomplish her goals and help others accomplish theirs.
Nina is the mother of four daughters; Susan Ruzicka (preceded in death), Jean Shelton of San Diego, CA, Debbie (Kevin) Campbell of Redmond, WA, and Becky (Jack) Schweinberg of Meridian, ID. Nina has enjoyed the company of her three granddaughters (Nicole, Madison, and Kate) and two grandsons (Jonathan and Jackson).
Nina's life will be celebrated with a party at Cloverdale Funeral Home on Saturday, December 20, 2014 at 2 pm with a reception to follow. Please come share your stories at Nina's celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the Pancreatic Action Network at www.pancan.org, Livestrong at the YMCA, or the Boise YMCA Swim Team. Letters of condolence can be sent to the Swim and Run Shop at 8620 Fairview Ave, Boise, ID, 83704.