Obituary, Laura L. Nelson, 70

Laura L. Nelson, 70, went home to heaven on November 17, 2015, in Cape Coral, Fla. after battling pancreatic cancer.

She was born on March 14, 1945 in Gore, Ohio to Dolly and Hazel (Breeze) Hartman.

She grew up one of five siblings in rural East Clayton, Ohio, graduating from Nelsonville York High School in 1963. Following a cross-country move with her two children, she met and married Lester Nelson of Eugene, Ore. in 1978.

Enjoying a career with the U.S. Forest Service that spanned decades, Laura retired in 1997 after many years as Administrative Officer for the Tongass National Forest in Petersburg, Alaska. The couple made their way to Bokeelia, Fla. a short time later. Laura earned her real estate license and worked as an area realtor for five years before taking up her final professional role in communication and sales for a local manufacturer.

Volunteerism was a part of Laura's life for many years, her heart and talents especially given to caring for the elderly and terminally ill.

Laura valued time spent with her husband, with family and friends, and enjoyed fishing in Alaska, golfing, and travel. Beneath it all was her indomitable Christian faith, which sustained her through her final storm.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Bob Hartman, and stepson, Keith Nelson.

Laura is survived by husband Lester Nelson of Bokeelia, children Bill (Kim) Tigner of North Pole, Alaska, daughter Cindy (Steve) Cloutier of Arlington, Wash., and stepson Chris Nelson of Portland, Ore .; siblings Lucy Blair of Carbon Hill, Ohio, Ray Hartman of Zaleski, Ohio, and Vivian Dawn (Kinnison) Fosnight of Ridgeland, SC; grandchildren Alex Heston, Chelsea Tigner, Emma Cloutier, and Abigail Cloutier; and her children's father Tom Tigner of Albany, Ohio.

A celebration of life will be held on December 5 at 2:30 pm at First Christian Church of Cape Coral, 2620 Country Club Blvd., Cape Coral. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org).