Nellie Rose Van Vliet

Van Vliet, Nellie Rose
December 5, 1919 - July 30, 2012
Born December 5, 1919 to Margaret (Jones) and Roscoe R. St. John near Maricopa in Kern County, California. She died at her home of 62 years on July 30, 2012. Nell is survived by her children and spouses Beverly (Brydon) Shirk and Jonell (Bob) Cadman of Fullerton; and Dennis Van Vliet (Alison Grimes) of Los Angeles; 7 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; and an assortment of people who came to know and love her as a surrogate parent or grandparent. As the only daughter with three brothers, Nell learned to help her mother with the skills necessary to grow up in a depression-era household. She became accomplished in sewing, cooking, gardening, and ultimately a skilled artist in a variety of media. She graduated from high school early to work in a photographic studio hand-coloring black and white portraits. Nell and Ed were married in 1938, and moved into their home she and Ed built in the Los Angeles suburb of Bell. They moved to their ranch in Yorba Linda in 1950 where Nell kept up her artistic pursuits setting up a pottery studio in their barn, and studying watercolor painting. She became skilled enough in knitting and crochet to eventually teach the subjects in adult education classes. Nell established a wide circle of friends who shared her love of art and camaraderie. Her generosity, contagious laughter, and appreciation of others will be missed.