Elizabeth Nelson, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away at home on February 24th, 2022. Born in 1930 to Lulu and Ferdinand Short, she grew up in Kingston, New York where she graduated from high school then attended the State University of New York at New Paltz.
Happily married to her childhood sweetheart, Paul, for 69 years, she lived in New York, Boulder, Tucson, and Longmont and enjoyed camping and traveling in the U.S. and Canada with family and friends. The first of three generations of nurses in her family, Liz worked at Boulder Community Hospital, and Table Mesa Family Medicine where she was loved by her patients and co-workers.
She was the mom, grandma, and mother-in-law everyone wished for -warm, loving, smart, and always ready to have fun. She inspired a love of cooking and gardening in her daughters and granddaughters and was known for making the best pies on the planet.
Liz is survived by her daughters Dale Durland and son-in-law Jeff, Lori Palmer and son-in-law Brian, granddaughters Kelley Morrissey (husband Scott), Jamie Morrissey (Eric), Tara Brown (husband Tommy), Lily Cook-Durland (Jake), and her brother Walter Short and family of Raleigh, N.C. and sister Carol Perry and family of Tucson.
We will miss her wisdom, wit, and love.
A memorial celebration will be held this Summer. Donations in her honor may be made to Doctors Without Borders and condolences may be left in the comments below.
Great job on photos, Dale. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. So kind and generous in every way and she really did make the best pies (we enjoyed many of them). She was a great nurse. She and Paul raised two wonderful daughters who, in turn, did the same with their children. She will be missed. But, those who knew her are forever grateful for the times we spent with her. Liz and I had a lot of laughs together (we frequently got into a little good trouble). The world is less bright without her.
Much love,
Judy (and Ray) McCain
Liz Nelson was like a second mother to me when i moved to Colorado in 1973. Of course I was with her daughter Dale, but that didn’t explain why she (and husband Paul) embraced me like one of the family. I remember Liz as vivacious, kind, wise, and one with a great sense of humor. And a wonderful cook. Dinner at the Nelson house was always a treat. Even at the end of her life, when Paul was gone, and she didn’t really recognize me, she was still sweet and had a gentle dignity. Now she is gone, reunited with the love of her life. She was a source of love and goodness for many people. She lived a worthwhile life, and I was blessed to have known her. Rest in peace, sweet lady.
I was privileged to experience her kindness and hospitality for a few weeks in circa ‘67-’68 when my VW beetle limped into Boulder from NY on a planned trip to CA. The Nelson family welcomed me while the beetle got an engine overhaul. Dale’s mom, is just that, a “MOM” — to any and all, whether as a nurse, to her family, to a friend of Dale’s she had never met. No doubt every family has their “issues”- but my time in the Nelson family is recalled as how I hoped a family to be. I’m grateful that time remains “unforgettable” and cherished ever since among the pages of a lifetime. I am but one among many for whom Liz Nelson will be unforgettable for many reasons.
What a wonderful collection of photos and memories. I feel very blessed to have known Liz for the last few years of her life. Our families celebrated Thanksgiving 2021 together in yummy style.
I will never watch a football game again without thinking of Liz and her love for football. It was no surprise to find out Liz was a nurse, her sweet, patient nature must have been very reassuring to all whom she cared for. May she be together again with her “childhood sweetheart” watching over all of us with her warm smile. My heart goes out to Dale and all of the family left behind. Hold onto those dear memories, for wonderful people such as Liz leave a lasting impression.