Barbara Lynne Nelson

1939 - 2016

Barbara Lynne Nelson

March 31, 1939 - December 19, 2016

Salem, Oregon - Longtime resident Barbara Lynne Nelson passed peacefully in Salem, Oregon on December 19, 2016 surrounded by her loving family.

Barbara was born to Oscar and Irene (née Shukraft) Stolz on March 31, 1939 in Sacramento, California. She lived in the Bay Area most of her young life, camping with family every summer and enjoying adventures with her two brothers.  She graduated from Hayward High School in 1956 and started a career with Pacific Finance.  In 1958, while out with friends in Santa Cruz at Aptos Beach, Barbara met a young Air Force man home on leave.  The rest, as they say, is history.  She married Lee Nelson on March 5, 1960.  The two embarked on numerous  adventures  in California, the greatest of which was the birth of their son, Brian Nelson.  With the two apples of her eye, Barbara moved to Salem, Oregon in 1970 to pursue Lee's dream of building a business together. They worked tirelessly, yet always as a  family.

After arriving in Salem, Barbara and Lee bought their first home on Browning. They turned their eyes to building their business and purchased their first property on Parkway in West Salem.  Through the years, Barbara ran the office and assisted Lee however she could.  Barbara also enjoyed loving friendships with The Birthday Girls, the Poker Gals, and neighborhood friends.  Barbara nurtured all of these relationships over the years and grew many of them into the finest of friendships.

Barbara joined P.E.O. in 1974. She was a very active member - filling every office at least once in her 42 years as a member. Barbara also worked as a Welcome Wagon hostess for her  first several years in Salem, through which she made many of her lifelong friends.  If you were new in town, and on her calling list, you had a friend for life!

Barbara was a collector of people.  She immediately welcomed new people into her life; whether a person had known her for 40 minutes or 40 years, she made them feel like the most interesting and important person in the world. She listened to stories about family, friends, and adventures and always replied, "I love it!"—and truly meant it.  With her sunny disposition, and enthusiasm for all things, she was the heart of her family and friends, and loved everyone without exception - especially Lee.

Barbara and Lee shared the kind of love that movies are made of—the expansive kind that brought joy to the people around them. They spent their days together, working  and playing, laughing and gardening.  The two ventured forth as travel companions, sailing and snorkeling, backpacking the Pacific Northwest and the Sierras, and seeing the world. Ever the social pair, they hosted parties endlessly to enjoy the company of dear friends and family.  And above all else, Barbara and Lee lovingly raised their son and then reveled in their beautiful grandchildren. Their love was palpable;  so many were blessed to be a part of it.

Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Lee Nelson; their son, Brian Nelson, and his wife Anne; their grandchildren: Trevor Nelson, Jack Nelson, and Phoebe Nelson; her brother, Alan Long, and his wife Maryellen; nephews Richard Long and Joe Sinapoli; niece Laurie Long De Simone and her husband Robb; sister-in-law Carolyn Rash and family; brother-in-law Larry Nelson and his wife Imogene; and nephew Jarrod Nelson and his wife Kerry. Barbara was preceded in death by her father, Oscar Stolz; her mother and stepfather, Irene and F. Alan Long; and her brother, Raymond Long.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Barbara's honor at 1:30pm on Wednesday, December 28 in the spinning room of the Willamette Heritage Center in Salem, Oregon. Please join our family to remember and celebrate all the love she showered on each and every one of us. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial donation to any P.E.O. educational project, or to the Pease Greeters who care for our service men and women on their way to and from deployment overseas. We extend a special thanks to all of the  dear friends who have stepped in to carry our family through our time of need.