Kathy Evelyn Nelson

Kathy Nelson passed away in the early hours of January 12th at Brookshire Post Acute Care Facility, where she had been a resident in memory care for some time. Kathy was a devoted wife to the love of her life, David Nelson, for 53 years, and she cared for him lovingly until they were no longer able to live together. She was also a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, cherishing every moment she was able to spend loving on “the little ones.”

Born in Mississippi in 1938, Kathy spent her childhood learning to cook from her grandmother, enjoying the outdoors, and biding her time until she made her way to her true home of Colorado, where she lived for more than sixty years. When she left Mississippi behind, all that remained was the Southern cooking - and a bit of the accent, which mostly appeared when she got excited or upset. Kathy was a strong, independent woman who wasn’t afraid to problem-solve and figure things out on her own, and she tried to instill that same independence in all of her children.

That independence showed clearly in her working life. From 1980 to 1989, Kathy and David owned and operated the Mid-Town Motel in La Junta, Colorado. During that time, they completely renovated the property from top to bottom, pouring countless hours of hard work into making it something they were proud of. Kathy brought beauty to the grounds as well, planting and tending rose gardens that became a standout feature of the property and a reflection of her care, patience, and eye for detail.

After selling the motel, Kathy remained in La Junta for several more years, working in retail and hospitality - fields well suited to her strong work ethic and practical nature. She later moved to Denver, where she worked for JCPenney from 1999 until her retirement in 2015. No matter the job, Kathy believed in showing up, working hard, and doing things the right way.

Kathy loved living in Colorado. She especially loved spending time outdoors in the sunshine - working in the yard, planting flowers, or simply sitting outside watching the birds and squirrels. She also cherished time in the mountains. In her younger years, Kathy loved to fish, and on fishing trips she always seemed to catch the first fish, the most fish, and the biggest fish. For some reason, luck always followed her to the lake.

Kathy will be remembered for her strength, her independence, and the deep, steady love she gave to her family. In many ways, her family has been mourning her loss for several years, as Alzheimer’s slowly took pieces of her from them, even as they continued to love her fully. Her passing brings deep sadness, but also a sense of peace in knowing she is no longer struggling and is finally at rest. Her warmth, resilience, and devotion to those she loved will live on through the family she built and cherished. If you wish to honor her memory, feel free to plant flowers this spring, read more books, feed the birds and the squirrels, and stand up for yourself and for others - things she did all the time, right up until the very end of her life.

Kathy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, David Nelson. She is survived by her children, David D. (Cindy Wilson) Nelson of Silver Springs, FL, Kimberley (Cliff) Stallings of Grand Junction, CO, and Laura (Paul) Neiman of Aurora, CO, as well as her grandchildren, Casey (Jessie) Miller, Justin (Rebecca) Miller, Amber (Bree) Switzler, all of Grand Junction, and Kayley (Darius Orr) Sosamon, Pablo Neiman, Mallory Neiman, Alexis Neiman, and Nicole Neiman, all of Aurora. She leaves behind numerous great-grandchildren.