Marie Lydia Allersmeyer Nelson

Marie Nelson completed her journey in this life and moved on to the next to be with her God on Wednesday, November 27, 2013, after several weeks of suffering due to strokes and a heart attack. Marie was born during a freak late snow storm on April 1, 1926 to Albert and Luella (Boedecker) Allersmeyer in a farmhouse between New Haven and Senate Grow, Missouri. Marie was raised on a farm near the Missouri River during the Great Depression with her three older brothers and then finally a younger sister all of whom she treasured.

Being at the top of her class, Marie graduated in 1943 during World War II, so she like most of her generation went directly to work to aid the war effort, Marie in a mechanical parts shop in St. Louis, Missouri. After the war in 1946, Marie moved to Yuma, AZ where her oldest brother, Harold was stationed as he had been there since before the war building and expanding the Marine Corp Air Station.

Marie got a job with the Yuma County Court House soon after she arrived and eventually became the recorder and registrar of births and deaths in Yuma County (check your birth certificate) a job she retained into the 1960's even working from home by the sixties. Here in Yuma, she met Dwight Nelson, a Yuman since 1935 at age of 10, and it was love at first sight, or at least second sight, when he showed up a couple of days after meeting Marie at the Court House with a bouquet of flowers and asked, "How's my chances of taking you on a date?" She replied, "Pretty good." They were married January 25, 1948 and remained so until the day she passed away. He referred to Marie as "my one and only." Their love transcended just the two of them and touched many others, especially their two daughters, and three grandchildren, one son-in-law, and one grandson-in-law, her extended family, nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and so many friends, many of whom are no longer with us in this life; but in whose presence she surely is.

Marie was very active in several organizations and community activities and spent a great deal of her time doing for others, all while building a business with her husband and partner. Every one she knew received a jar of her homemade pomegranate jelly, nor did anyone lose a loved one without getting a ham, casserole, or homemade pie or cake. She was famous for her entertaining and her Halloween costume making. At her daughters' birthdays there was fun for the children and their parents all with appropriate treats, even under the most difficult circumstances. She loved to entertain at the Cabin at the river, but the best every year was her Christmas Eve party, so well attended that when she felt that she and Dwight just couldn't do it anymore several people were very sad that they lost this precious tradition in their lives, especially her daughters and grandchildren. She did so many things, that it is impossible to include them all, but those which meant the most were P.E.O., The First United Methodist Church, her family, Beta Sigma Phi, and her friends.

Marie is preceded in death by her mother and father; her brothers, Harold, Ralph, and Elmer Allersmeyer; her sisters-in-law, Delores Powell, Mary Nelson, Annie Allersmeyer, Faye Olmstead Allersmeyer, and Essie Allersmeyer; brothers-in-law, Sherman Friedmann and Harry L Powell; nieces, Gail Marie LeDoux and Donna Marie Nelson Sherman. Marie is survived by her loving husband of over 65 years, Dwight Nelson; daughters, Kathryn L Nelson Vorndam (Brian) and Susan M Rico; grandchildren, Andrew Nicholas Wright, David Dean Rico Jr., Sara Kathryn Mrofka (Aaron); and great-grandchildren, David Rico III, Audrey Mrofka, and Harper Mrofka, all from Yuma. Her sister, Laverne Allersmeyer Ehlmann (Arlie) of St. Louis, Missouri; cousin, Bernita Keig of Cave Creek, AZ; many nieces and nephews; God-son, Mark Ogram of Tucson, AZ; and close friends, especially Joy Sexton, Karon Keeler (John) and Polly Bowers of Prescott, AZ, Ginger Marks Martin (Jim), Peggy Ogram and Marilyn Matheus of Yuma, AZ.

Services are as follows: Viewing will be held Friday, December 6, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m at Johnson Mortuary Chapel. Funeral will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at First United Methodist Church, 298 W 3rd Street, Yuma, with internment to follow immediately after at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 1415 S 1st Avenue. A luncheon reception will follow for those attending. Pallbearers: Brian Vorndam, Andrew Wright, David Rico Jr., David Rico III, Aaron Mrofka, Eddie Nelson, and Mark Ogram. Honorary pallbearers: Frank Townsend, Ed Hovatter, John Peach, Bob Nelson, Lyle Nelson, Richard Chase, Steven Friedmann and Arlie Ehlmann. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to one of Marie's favorite charities: the P.E.O.'s Cottey College Fund (to support women's education) or the First United Methodist Church, or a charity of your choice.