Rae Rita Palmer Nelson

Rae Rita Palmer Nelson

Heaven gained an Angel last month when Rae Nelson passed peacefully into the Father’s arms. Rae was just three days short of her 86th birthday. She was born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1938. Those were different times for sure. Because she was born prematurely, her hospital bill was much bigger than for normal births. In fact, her Uncle Jack had to sell a large load of hay to satisfy the hospital debt and allow her to be brought home!

She was preceded in death by her sister, Peggy Palmer, her brother, Lester Palmer, Jr., her parents Lester Palmer, and Elizabeth Donahay Palmer, and her grandson, Taylor Parnell.

Rae graduated from South River High School (NJ) in 1955 and went on to the Mercer School of Nursing where she obtained her certification as a Registered Nurse. During her time at Mercer, in April of 1958, she married her high school sweetheart, Matthew Nelson, Sr. and they had three children together, Matthew Jr., Lori Nelson Akers, and Kristen Rae Gonzales.

Rae had several successful careers, beginning as a Registered Nurse working at Middlesex County hospital and Carrier Clinic in New Jersey. Then, in 1974, her husband sold his half of the family business and the family moved to Colorado where they resided in rural Douglas County, Parker, Littleton, and Aurora. Once they settled in Colorado. Rae obtained her professional real estate license and worked for Century 21 Realty. From there, Rae and her husband started Parker rental which was one of only two rental outlets in Douglas County at the time. Her final job was as a nurse manager for United Healthcare from where she retired.

Rae and Matt then moved to Florida where they spent almost twenty years enjoying the sunshine before returning to Colorado to be near family in their twilight years.Rae is survived by her husband of sixty-five years, Matt, Sr., her son, Matt, Jr. and his wife Joyce, her daughter Lori and her husband Steve Akers, and her daughter, Kristen. She also has six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

She will be deeply missed by all who knew her and loved her “until we meet again.”Rae will be interred in the family plot at Tennant Memorial cemetery in Tennant, NJ.Rae preferred that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Samaritan’s Purse or St. Jude’s Hospital for Children.