Our loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Sherel Nelson Nielson, passed away on Monday, February 9, 2026. Sherel was born on December 27, 1937, in Logan, Utah, to Wray and Alta Nelson. Later, the family moved to Springville, Utah, where, as a young girl, Sherel loved spending time with her father in his furnace shop—playing under his workbench, helping with small tasks, and learning the value of hard work, service, and faith from her parents.
Sherel attended Springville High School, where she enjoyed cheerleading and was chosen as the Springville City Art Queen. She married her sweetheart, Charles Gordon Nielson, while he served in the Army in Georgia (her engagement ring was delivered in the mail). They were married in the Manti Temple on April 14, 1955, beginning a cherished and loving marriage.
Sherel and Gordon were blessed with seven sons. Sherel was a devoted wife and mother who supported her boys in every activity—from Scouting, where she helped each of her sons earn his Eagle Scout award, to all kinds of sports, where she was their biggest fan. Mom also had a whistle that could be heard for miles—you knew it was time to come home when she whistled.
She loved creating a welcoming home through cooking, sewing, quilting, and gardening. She helped her husband build three homes and later supported the construction of the family cabin in Fairview, which became one of Mom and Dad’s most cherished places. The cabin was a gathering place filled with camping, fishing, treasure hunts, campfires, and lasting family memories. Sherel enjoyed traveling, golfing with the Hobble Creek Women’s Golf Association (where she scored a hole-in-one), exercising with friends, and staying closely connected with her lifelong high school friends—also known as “the Club.”
She served faithfully in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in many callings over the years. Sherel and Gordon also served for six years as guest-service missionaries at Temple Square, an experience she deeply loved. Sherel would often express love through words and actions for our Savior, Jesus Christ and His gospel. She cherished the Book of Mormon and found great peace in reading it and sharing verses from it.
Sherel is survived by her sons Stephen (Monique), Mt. Pleasant; Russell (Lorene), Springville; Brian (Joni), Spanish Fork; Jeffrey (Jana), Salem; and David (Kaci), Springville; 21 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and daughter-in-law, Janis Nielson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon; her sons, Michael and Douglas; two great-grandbabies, Robyn Goff and Maggie Jo Gandy; her parents; her brother, LaVar Nelson; and her sisters, Louise Nelson and LaRae Stallings.
The family would like to thank her amazing neighbors who watched out for her, the nurses and staff at the Ashford Memory Assisted Living for their loving care, and Stacey Memmott, Mom’s home health nurse, who cared for her for many years.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Springville LDS Heritage Chapel, 1785 E 400 S, Springville. A viewing for friends and family will be held Thursday evening at the same location from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. prior to the funeral services. Interment will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery.
To leave condolences, visit www.legacyfunerals.com
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3595 N. Main Street, Spanish Fork, UT 84660

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