Evelyn E. Nelson

At Evelyn E. Nelson's childhood home in Ontario, she learned to cook

in a peat-fired oven and drew water from a well on her family's farm.

Over the course of her long life, those chores and many

others became much easier. But the pies never changed. The pies

remained perfect.



Mrs. Nelson died Saturday at Medilodge of Port Huron due to the

complications of being 99 years old. Her family is stunned that she

died so young, but they will be forever grateful to have had such a

wonderful matriarch for so long.



Mrs. Nelson was raised in Sarnia, Ontario and moved to Port Huron after John H.

Nelson, the former Port Huron city assessor, came courting. They married, settled

on Gratiot Ave., and then sent four daughters and a son into the world

with heads full of knowing right from wrong. All of those lessons have

been passed down, but the record of obedience has been less than

perfect. She cant be faulted for trying.



Mrs. Nelson is survived by her daughters Carolyn (the late Dr. John)

Youngs, Patricia (the late Dr. John) Miller, Joanne (the late Gary)

Ebert and Sarajane (Robert) Rowling; her son John (Sharon) Nelson; her

grandchildren Susan Keeling, Riley Youngs, the late Michael Youngs, Gregory Miller, Robert

Miller, Mary Beth (Antonio) Ferrante, Robert (Lauren) Rowling,

Kristina Rowling and John R. Nelson; her great-grandchildren Andrea

Youngs, Jason Ferrante, Evan Ferrante, Sean Youngs, Dustin Youngs,

Michelle Youngs and Allyson Rowling.



There were occasional ruptures in this clan, never more pronounced

than at Thanksgiving. Some took the side of the pumpkin pie, some

cherry, and still others apple. All, however, were united in

appreciation of the best pie ever. That, and the nickel slot machine

in Mrs. Nelsons basement. It kept the grandkids occupied while the

grown-ups watched the Lions lose. Those were the most cheerful,

fattening and content days of all.



In recent times, Mrs. Nelson allowed her daughters to carry the

Thanksgiving burden. She would arrive with pie (thank God!), and she

would arrive with humor. Several years ago her grandson Rob, hung a freshly

shot deer from the tree just outside her daughters kitchen window.

Some thought it an unappetizing sight. Not Mrs. Nelson. Thats a good

looking deer, she said, and she meant it.



Mrs. Nelson will be missed, always.



Mrs. Nelson's wishes will be honored with cremation and a private graveside burial with no flowers or memorials.



The family gives a special thank-you to Dr. Anil Patel, nursing staff at Port Huron Hospital, Marwood Nursing and Rehabilitation and Medilodge of Port Huron.