Marion Louise Nelson

Born on December 26, 1927 in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, she was the youngest of three

children of Anna and August Schimpf, Jr. Growing up she wanted to be a teacher, but during her

high school years she worked every summer in a hospital as an aide or ward clerk, and nursing

became her passion. She matriculated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1945 as a pre-nursing

student. In the spring of 1946 on a blind date to the Sophomore Hop, Marion met Philip (Phil)

Nelson— it was love at first sight. After meeting the love of her life, Marion chose to forgo her

five year nursing studies, opting to graduate in four years so that she and Phil could marry. After

passing the dreaded mandatory swim test (a huge feat for her) she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in

1949 with a degree in psychology. They married on December 31, 1949, and lived in

Philadelphia while Phil completed his medical training. Marion gave birth to two baby girls,

Carol in 1951 and Janet in 1952. In 1954, Phil and Marion moved to Utah when Phil was drafted

into the Air Force, and Laura was born in 1955, and Susan in 1956.

In 1959, Phil joined a thriving OB/Gyn practice and moved his growing family to Williamsport,

Pennsylvania. Williamsport was the ideal place to raise their four girls, and where they made

life-long friendships. Marion was a homemaker extraordinaire— caring for four girls, managing

the family budget, grocery shopping ($10 a bag back then), cooking (not her favorite), cleaning,

doing laundry (including ironing the bed linens) and sewing fashion-forward clothes for her

girls. She loved reading, singing, birdwatching, gardening, and entertaining friends. Marion

enjoyed her projects group with best friends Jan, Anne, Ruth and Mary Jo where they shared

their latest knitting and crafting projects. Marion also treasured her long-lasting bond with the

Stott and Fiddian families from the UK. Marion embraced new ideas and explored the practice

of Transcendental Meditation and yoga in the 70”s. She loved listening to music of the Bee Gees,

Andy Williams and Frank Sinatra.

Fed up with the cold and snowy winters, in 1981, Marion and Phil moved to Sarasota, Florida.

They gardened, made new friends, solved crossword puzzles and word scrambles, read

voraciously, and enjoyed plays and concerts at Van Wezel Performing Arts Center and Asolo

Repertory Theatre. Lady, Katie, and Fancy, their beloved Westhighland Terriers, joined the

family. In the late 1980’s Marion struggled with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Marion and Phil

became passionate advocates for education, research, diagnosis and treatment of Chronic

Fatigue Syndrome. Marion was founder and President of the Manasota CFIDS Support Group

from 1991-1999, and traveled to Washington,DC to advocate for CFIDS on Capitol Hill.

In 2003, Marion and Phil moved to the Glenridge on Palmer Ranch. New friendships blossomed,

and activities were abundant. Nearly every square on their calendar was filled. Singing and

performing with the Glenridge Harmonaires and Singers brought joy and new connections.

By far, their favorite adventure was traveling the world. They explored the sights and cultures of

six continents. Favorite trips through the years included the Virgin Islands, Africa, Ireland,

England, China, Australia, India, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.

Marion was preceded in death by her parents, Anna and August Schimpf, Jr ; daughter, Janet

Nelson; sister, Anne Babb; and brother, Walter Schimpf.

She is survived by her loving husband of 74 years, Philip Nelson; three children, Carol Nelson,

Laura (Sam)Hawken, Susan(James)Segars ; seven grandchildren, Tom(Tiffany)Hawken, Jennifer

Hawken, Jessica Hawken, James(Christin)Segars, Michael(Alisha)Segars, Laura(Edgar)Petras,

Jonathan(Agnijita) Segars ; and eight great grandchildren, Stafford, Theodore, Caledonia, Finley,

Oriana, Wyatt, Keaton, and Eleanor.

Marion— loving, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and great-aunt.

Forever loved, forever in our hearts.

“There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart.” – Gandhi