Charlotte Lee Ericksen Nelson, 73 of Providence and Beaver Dam, Utah, passed away at her home in Providence on May 22, 2016.
Charlotte was born September 3, 1942 in Logan, Utah to Joseph Durell and Leola Marentine (Johnson) Ericksen. She had three sisters and one brother.
Growing up in Logan, she graduated from Logan High School and attended Utah State University where she met her lifelong and eternal companion David Nelson. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology prior to their marriage on August 30, 1963 in the Logan LDS Temple.
Shortly after their marriage they moved to California where her husband David attended the University of California, Berkley. With her assistance, he received his PhD in Plant Pathology. Charlotte worked at Cutter Laboratories (a pharmaceutical company). The Oakland temple was built and dedicated and they excited to be able to attend while there.
After David graduated, the couple returned to Logan where David found a job as a Research Plant Pathologist at the USDA Forest and Range Experiment Station. They had just moved to a home in Beaver Dam when a new Forest Service Shrub Science Lab was built in Provo. David transferred to Provo in order to continue his important work on rangeland shrub diseases while Charlotte stayed in Beaver Dam. Their time was divided between Beaver Dam, Logan, and Provo for a number of years until David retired.
Charlotte lovingly took care of David during the last eight years of his life as Alzheimer’s disease gradually robbed his memories and quality of life.
Charlotte loved music and played the organ, piano, and clarinet. She was the Beaver Ward organist for many years and especially loved sharing her talents with the primary children. Charlotte had a special love for animals and growing all kinds of plants. Although she had never had any children of her own, she loved and was loved by her many nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. Members of her family have fond memories spending time with her and Dave in their yard in Beaver Dam.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Joseph Durell and Leola Marentine Ericksen, husband: David Lavar Nelson, and Sister: Marilyn Ray. She is survived by her brother Leo Durell Ericksen and a sister Joy Alain Sadler.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon Thursday June 2nd in the Beaver Dam LDS chapel at 16025 North Beaver Dam Road with a visitation that day at 10:30-11:30am. Visitations for family and friends will be held 6:00pm-8:00pm on June 1st at the Allen-Hall mortuary 34 East Center Street Logan, UT 84321. Burial will be in the Beaver Dam Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary.