Vicki Nelson

Vicki Lee Nelson, a hard-driving lawyer, federal bankruptcy trustee, and friend-maker extraordinaire, embodied the candle that burns twice as brightly but burns half as long. Just 60, she died on Saturday, January 13th, at Mountain’s Edge Hospital, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Few people have embraced life as fully and joyfully as Vicki or have magnetically attracted so many people.

She was as feisty as she was gentle, as forthright as she was tactful, as full of wonder as she was of wisdom. Her loyalty was fierce, her laughter infectious. Vicki had a delightful, sometimes outrageous sense of humor that withstood crushing professional pressure and remained during her nearly yearlong illness.

She spoke a colorful language all her own, some adapted from her quotable mother, Shirley Nelson, the rest inspired by her vivid imagination, and years spent in Appalachia.

Vicki was born April 20th, 1957 to Joseph and Shirley Nelson, who proceeded her in death. She grew up in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. She spent her childhood riding her bike, camping, delivering the local paper, playing the clarinet for the High School band, and was active in girl scouting. All of these experiences helped to shape the woman that she would become.

Upon graduation from High School in 1975, Vicki became a legal secretary. It became evident to her that a higher calling was whispering in her ear. So in 1984 Vicki enrolled in Penn State University. She managed to graduate with a degree in accounting in three years. This was an amazing feat considering she continued to work full time.

In 1987 she headed to Ohio Northern University to attend law school. She graduated in 1990 after winning the prestigious Moot Court Competition.

In 1992 Vicki moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. She eventually joined the law firm of Holley, Driggs, Walch, where she continued to craft her skills and ultimately became a partner.

In 2002 Vicki married Ronald Legge, whom she met at a Thanksgiving dinner at the home of Jonathon and Karen Andell. The moment that they met she knew that she would spend the rest of her life with him. In a spring wedding they became husband and wife. Sadly, Ron passed away last February.

True to her zeal to ever reach higher, Vicki established her own law firm in 2014, and was appointed as a Federal Bankruptcy Trustee. She was indeed larger than life. She rocked Las Vegas with her arrival, as she has with her passing.

This amazingly accomplished woman will be missed by her surviving family; JoEllen Nelson and wife Susan Dicklitch-Nelson, brother David Nelson and wife Peggy, and niece Nicole, brother Robert Nelson and wife Julie, friends Eddie and Willie Howard, assistant extraordinaire, Candace Gauss, and many, other friends too numerous to mention.

Memorial services for Vicki will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at Palm Southwest Mortuary located at, 7979 W. Warm Springs Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89113. Private internment will follow at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charity of Greater Las Vegas, 2323 Potosi St, Las Vegas, NV 89146. All funds raised for RMHC of Greater Las Vegas remain in the Las Vegas community.