Shirley Nelson

Shirley Helen (Williamson) Nelson died peacefully on August 3, 2025, following a stroke at her home in Peoria, AZ. She lived a long full life and was 96 when she passed. She loved to have fun, and she enjoyed refinishing antiques, painting, acting and singing on the radio with the Popeye Club when she was young. She also enjoyed bargain hunting and watching classic movies with her favorite cocktail. For many years, Friday night meant friends over for Olympia oysters and bridge. In her early 90s, she published a children's book.

She was born in Tacoma, WA and spent her formative years in Olympia, WA where she graduated from Olympia High class of 1947 and where she married Wallace Emery Nelson.

Wally worked for Boeing in the US space program. The family lived both in Bellevue, WA and Huntsville, AL before retiring to Palm Desert, CA and Glendale, AZ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wally and son Michael.

She is survived by her 3 daughters/2 sons-in-laws-Linda Nelson, Cheryl Hays (Steven) & Sandi Repetowski (Pat), daughter in law, Rita Nelson, her grandchildren, William Samuel Hays, Thomas Jamison Nelson and Michael Anne Hamel (Jeremy), identical twin great-granddaughters Emery and Addison Hamel, as well as many more nieces and nephews. She was a happy, loving mother who taught us to laugh at ourselves and live life to the fullest! She is already greatly missed.

In memory of mom, please do something special with each individual child in your family. It's a gift they will cherish forever.

Memorial contributions can be made to:

The American Macular Degeneration Foundation

P.O Box 515

Northampton, MA 01061-0515

You are invited to share your memories on this website.