Mattie Rae Elmore Nielsen

1934 - 2024

NIELSEN - Mattie Rae Elmore Nielsen of Charleston, S.C., and most recently White Oak, Ga., entered into eternal rest with her Lord and Savior on the morning of Saturday, June 1, 2024.
Mattie was born Oct. 23, 1934, in Charleston, S.C., to the late Samuel Baxter and Annie Francis Elmore. Mattie married the love of her life, Charles Aimar Nielsen Jr., on June 14, 1952. She and Charlie were members of the North Charleston Outboard Club for many years, where they had the times of their life water skiing and boating with their friends. Mattie was even on the Women's Ski Team. Later in life after the kids came along, she and Charlie decided to build a simple lake house in Moncks Corner, S.C., where all of the extended families had the best summers ever! I do believe the lake house summers were the fondest memories of all of the kids, as well as the adults. Mattie was extremely devoted to her children and was always helping where she could, whether it was being a Cub and Boy Scouts leader or Brownie leader, to being an integral member of the PTA. There was always a lot of crafting going on getting ready for the school carnivals. She never missed a ball ame or cheerleading event. Even as we became adults, she never stopped helping and supporting us.
Mattie had a great career working for the Department of the Navy. She worked a total of 35 years, but her last 10 years of employment was with Navel EX in Charleston. She excelled at her job and received many awards, but most importantly made many friends and had very fond memories of her time there.
Mattie endured some pretty hard times, but she was a survivor. She survived falling through a rotten floor in an old house out in the middle of nowhere and had a broken leg. She tumbled down a hillside and ended up with a broken wrist, fell and broke her hip, but most importantly she beat breast cancer not once, but twice!
Most importantly, Mattie was a faithful servant to her Lord. No matter which church she was a member of, she always served the church in one role or another. Some of those roles were as a Sunday school teacher, and I believe she was also on the church council for Yeamans Park Presbyterian Church. While living on Wadmalaw Island, she became the church secretary for the Johns Island Presbyterian Church and really enjoyed meeting so many new and dear friends. After moving to Shadowmoss, she attended St. Andrews Parish United Methodist Church, and then a few years ago, she moved to White Oak, Ga., and attended the Waverly United Methodist Church where she became a member.
Mattie was predeceased by her parents; brothers, Samuel Baxter Elmore Jr. and Harold Martin Elmore; sister, Gladys E. Elmore McCloud Bledsoe; and beloved husband, Charles Aimar Nielsen Jr.
Mattie is survived by her son, Michael Thomas Nielsen (Cyndi); daughter, Julie Ann NIelsen Craven (Zach); granddaughters, Paige E. Craven Retchko (Jake), Amanda N. Craven Riggle (Ryan), Allysen Ledwell (Payton) and Izabela Pacheco; grandson, Evan C. Nielsen; great-grandchildren, Charlie Retchko, Josie Retchko, Grant Riggle and Brooks Riggle; and lots of nieces and nephews she loved dearly as well. She is also leaving behind her sister-in-law, Sue Anna Nielsen Cammer, who was more like a sister than an in-law.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 22, 2024, at St. Andrews Parish United Methodist Church, 3225 Ashley River Road in Charleston, S.C. In lieu of flowers, feel free to make a donation to a charity of your choosing in honor of Mattie.
Allison Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.