Jay Lamar Nelson

Jay LaMar Nelson, 90, passed away peacefully June 18, 2012 in Show Low, AZ with family by his side. He was born on August 18, 1921 in Salt Lake City, UT. He was the 2nd of 12 children. He served in the Army with the 2nd Armored Division better known as "Hell on Wheels" during WWII, where he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and the Belgian Fourragere. He was part of the invasions in Africa (1st wave), Sicily (1st wave), D- Day (2nd wave Omaha Beach), Battle of the Bulge, liberation of Belgian and Paris. At the end of the war he was selected to be part of the color guard at the Potsdam Conference. If someone addressed him as "Sir" he would remind them that he had enlisted. Returning home to Utah he married Ruby LaRue Charles and started his family of 5 children. They traveled the United States building power plants, dams and doing ironwork work in many states. In 1963 they moved to Anchorage, Alaska where he worked for the Alaska Railroad. They later divorced and neither remarried. He retired with a medical retirement in 1976, Later he moved to Ft. Bridger, WY where he continued to fish, hunt and spend time with friends and family. He moved to Show Low 4 years ago to be near family as his eyesight had deteriorated and he was no longer able to drive. He is survived by his children: Lanny Kay Nelson, Chugiak, AK, Larry Jay Nelson, Payson, AZ, John Cary Nelson, Payson, AZ , Debra Lee Hammerschmid, Salt Lake City, UT and Jalyn Gerlich, Pinetop, AZ . Also 3 brothers, Carl Nelson, John Nelson, and Richard Nelson, and 3 sisters, Margaret Chambers, Carol Jensen, Pat Bresguard. He had 8 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a multitude of nieces and nephews . He is preceded in death by his parents, Francis C. Nelson and Myrtle E. Nelson, brothers David Nelson, Marvin Nelson, Jim Nelson, sisters Mary Nelson (Minnick) and Ellen Nelson (Fenemon) and former wife, Ruby. He loved the West, traveling and most of all his family. He donated his body to science and requested that his ashes be spread in the Uinta Mountains of Wyoming. The family would like to thank Owens Livingston Mortuary for their assistance with these arrangements.