JoAnn Nelson

JoAnn Barlow Nelson
Aug. 12, 1928-June 6, 2013

Our beloved JoAnn Barlow Nelson died June 6, 2013, of lung cancer. Born August 12, 1928, in Salt Lake City, 4th child of 8, to Ora Haven and Hannah Melvira Higgs Barlow. Education was at Douglas Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High, East High, and University of Utah (B.S. 1950 in Elementary Education). Married Dalmas Hildor Nelson on March 21, 1949 in the Salt Lake Temple. Mother of 3 sons: Mark Hildor, Brent Dalmas, and Daniel Barlow. Resided in Belmont, Massachusetts (1952-55); Lincoln, Nebraska (1955-58); Arlington, Virginia (1958-59); Durham, North Carolina (1959-60); San Fernando Valley, California (1960-75); Salt Lake City (since 1975).

She was kind, hospitable, generous, and loving. A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served in many callings across the years, such as Relief Society president in California, and, for 2 years, a weekly worker in the Salt Lake Temple. In California she was a foster mother under the Church Indian Placement Program to Anthony Goseyun (Apache) for 2 school years and Richard Andrews (Pima) for 1 school year.

She taught in elementary school at Emerson (Salt Lake City District), 1950-51; San Fernando Elementary in California, 1966-75; and Meadowmoor (Granite District), 1976-92. A very dedicated, conscientious teacher, in California she learned Spanish so she could communicate better with her pupils’ parents. After retiring, she taught 2 more years as a volunteer, regarding art appreciation.

Thrift-minded, she nurtured several savings and investments programs that became very helpful to her family, and helped design several valuable remodelings of her homes. In Utah, she planted an extensive set of Concord grapevines, an apricot tree, and a peach tree. For many years, she bottled large amounts of peaches, apricots, cherries, and grape juice.

She was an angel with spunk and an adventurous spirit. In the late 1960’s and 1970’s, she did extensive backpacking with family members, in the Sierra Nevada, southern Utah, and the Teton Crest Trail in Wyoming. Foreign travel with family included several trips to Canada; Eastern Europe, 1984; Britain, 1998; and a Mediterranean cruise, 2006.

For 14 years in California, she co-managed with her husband a friends’ playreading group. For 38 years in Utah, she co-managed the Nelson/Barlow family literary group (playreading and poetry reading). Other recreation included live theater and Utah Symphony classical concerts. She was long active in Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Ensign Club, Delta Kappa Gamma (retired teachers), and “Great Books,” a group of friends. She co-edited a 409-page book of her father’s poetry (1993).

She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Daniel, and siblings Emily (Bruce) Harris, Brentnall (Carma) Barlow, Richard (Norma) Barlow, and Anthony (Phyllis) Barlow. She is survived by: husband Dalmas; sons Mark and Brent (Ada); daughter-in-law Therese (Dan) Nelson; grandchildren Caroline Nelson, Allen Nelson, Scott Nelson, Emily (Joe) Mayfield; great-granddaughter Claire Mayfield; brother, Patrick (Sherry) Barlow; sisters Pauline (Tom) Melville and Eleanor (Ed) John.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 15, at the Yalecrest Wards building, 1035 South 1800 East, at 12 noon. A viewing will be held on Friday, June 14, from 6-8 p.m. at Russon Bros. Salt Lake Mortuary, 255 South, 200 East, and at the Yalecrest building prior to the funeral service, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Drive. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to your favorite charity. Online guestbook available at www.russonmortuary.com