Charles "Charlie" William Nelson

Charles (Charlie) William Nelson was born September 13, 1926, in his Auntie Bea's home in Alton, Illinois.  When she first saw him, she said, “He's not a pretty baby, but he's a good baby”.  He went peacefully home to heaven on March 14, 2025, at the age of 98 ½.  He spent the last months of his life joyfully living with his son, Ed and daughter-in-law, Debbie Jean in Dewey, Arizona.

Charlie attended a one-room schoolhouse, graduated from Jersey County High School and joined the U.S. Navy.  He was a WWII Veteran serving as a Sea Bee on the island of Guam.  After the Navy, he was never interested in taking a cruise.

Returning home, he hit the highways and byways following the wheat harvest in Kansas with his brother.  He got a job hauling cars out of Hazelwood, MO.  He loved to drive, especially out west.  In the thirteen years that he worked for Associated Transport, he earned a “Million Mile” pin.

Charlie Married the love of his life, Lucy A. Stafford in August of 1949. He and Lucy worked together, incorporating Pioneer Construction Company where he built many homes in Illinois.  Charlie and Lucy raised their seven children, moving numerous times between the two towns of Alton and Godfrey.  Lucy would hardly get the boxes unpacked, or not, when someone would want to buy their new house! 

In 1974, they moved to Moab, Utah, where they purchased “King's Bottom Ranch” and the “Egg Ranch”. Lucy's “Strickly Fresh Eggs” were sold to all the restaurants and grocery stores in Moab.  In 1977, they started Western Home Sales.  For the next 11 years they worked together selling new and used mobile homes.  Side by side, Charlie and Lucy owned and operated several mobile home parks and developed Kane Springs Campground.

He will be sadly missed by his children, Connie (Craig) Heath of Fallon, NV Brenda Nelsonof Moab, Utah, Debbie D. Nelson of SLC, Utah, Ed (Debbie Jean) Nelson of Dewey, Arizona, Anne (Larry) Walden of Moab, Utah, Ruth (Mike) Boersma of Clayton, Indiana, and Mary K. (Keven) Conrad of Fruita, Colorado, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Clara and Arthur Nelson, his wife, Lucy, his son, Jim (JW), and his siblings, Hazel Stubblefield (Lloyd), Harry Nelson (Doris), Robert Nelson (Dorothy), and Katie Chronister.

Per Charlie's request, there will not be a funeral.  A celebration of his life for family and friends will be held at a later date.