[Nfbmt] Flo Nelson Also Passed

Sat Dec 1 17:47:53 UTC 2012

Dan,
Thanks for providing this information.  I shall miss both Flo and Lois.
They broke the mold when these two came into being.
Thanks again.
Ted

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbmt [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Burke
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2012 10:15 AM
To: NFB of Montana Discussion List
Subject: [Nfbmt] Flo Nelson Also Passed

Greetings -

I attended Lois DuPUis' memorial service in Polson yesterday. In talking
with her daughter Anita after the service, I learned tht Flo Nelson passed
away just a week or so before Lois.  Flo and Lois were great friends, and
Flo was the long-time president of the Lelia Proctor Memorial Chapter in
Kalispell.

Both of these women were great souls And I miss them both.

****

Elon Florine 'Flo' Gilcrease Nelson, 93 - Daily Inter Lake: Obituaries

Elon Florine 'Flo' Gilcrease Nelson, 93

Posted: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 4:16 pm

Elon Florine "Flo" Gilcrease Nelson passed away Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012,
surrounded by family, at the home of her granddaughter Lori Rainwater in
Bigfork.

Born June 29, 1919, in Cottonwood, Ariz., to Elon Catherine Stewart
Gilcrease (age 19) and Dan Edward Gilcrease (age 38), Flo spent her youth in
the Cottonwood area. As the eldest of five children, Flo quickly became
primary caretaker for her siblings.

Flo loved school and in spite of numerous family moves always found teachers
who mentored and encouraged her. She eagerly took to the books and was
promoted two grades during elementary school. She became the first in her
family to graduate from high school, which was not an easy task for a girl
who cleaned, cooked and baby-sat for other families in order to live close
to a school.

Upon graduation, Flo's goal was to become a registered nurse. However, her
dream took a different direction when she was introduced to a charmingly
electric guy from Montana - Joe Nelson. As they both related at their 70th
anniversary in 2009, they were destined to be together to take on the world.
At age 18, newlywed Flo boarded a bus bound for Kalispell, and as she's said
many times, "Never looked back!"

Flo took on and embraced diverse roles in her life, all with one common
theme - work hard and make a difference wherever you can. She was known to
speak her mind and refreshingly did so in a direct no-nonsense way. She was
quick to offer solutions, as well as point out just why something needed
improvement.
Whether someone was choosing a career, planting a flower garden or naming a
grandchild, Flo freely offered her opinion.

With a great work ethic, Flo's accomplishments were many. She took on
numerous professional, as well as volunteer, roles including writer, office
manager and Nobel Grand of the Rebekahs. Her involvement with the Montana
Association for the Blind included serving as president of the Flathead
Chapter for several years.

She loved dancing with Joe, a good game of cards, gardening, genealogy and
especially traveling with Joe in their motor home. She was most proud of her
children, and their children, and the impact that her life partner, Joe, had
on Bigfork, Flathead County and the state of Montana. Joe relied on this
lifetime partnership in all his endeavors.

A lifelong goal was realized at the age of 91 when she published her first
book, an autobiography, "Stories I Remember." She had recently finished a
book about Joe's life.

Flo was preceded in death by Joe; her sister, Doris (Gilcrease) Bosick; and
brother, Dan Gilcrease.

She is survived by three children, Gerri Johnson and Ron of Palm Springs,
Calif., Joe Jr., and Karen of Petersburg, Alaska, and Harriett Brittenham
and Marvin of Parker, Colo. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, 19
great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, with another expected
in March.
Also surviving Flo are her two brothers, Tad and Bert Gilcrease; and
sister-in-law, Ann, and Dan Gilcrease of Arizona.

For the past several years Flo and Joe have been blessed to have at their
side eldest granddaughter, Lori Rainwater. Lori moved from Tacoma, Wash., to
live close and help take care of Grandpa Joe and Gram. The Nelson family is
deeply indebted to Lori for the love, patience, commitment, enthusiasm and
joy that she so freely gave to Joe and Flo.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at Buffalo Hill Funeral
Home with the Rev. Ronnie Pierce officiating, and all are invited to a
reception hosted by the Bigfork Fire Department at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Flo's name
to the Bigfork Fire Department.

"Joe and Flo - Meant to be together long ago, are together again."
--
Dan Burke, President
The National Federation of the Blind of Montana

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