Corinne C. ‘Connie’ Nelson

Corinne C. “Connie” Nelson, 83, died Dec. 19, 2012, surrounded by her loving family at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

A celebration of Connie’s life is at her home on Dec. 29. For more information, contact Laurie at 373-8988 or Patti at 745-2774.

A lifelong Alaskan, Connie was born and grew up in Ketchikan. She moved with her mother to Anchorage, where she graduated from Anchorage High School. In 1947, Connie married Gordon R. Nelson in Anchorage. When Gordy joined the Alaska Highway Patrol in 1952 (subsequently the Alaska State Police and Alaska State Troopers), she joined him in an adventure that took them to Glennallen, Fairbanks, Palmer, back to Anchorage and to Juneau, while lovingly raising six children.

After Gordy retired and their children were grown, they moved to Wasilla where she went to work for the Mat-Su Borough School District, from which she retired in 1994.

Surviving are her children, Laurie Schroder and husband Mike of Wasilla, Ken Nelson of Wasilla, Glen Nelson and wife Susan of Wasilla, Toni Solin and husband Gary of Anchorage, Wayne Nelson and wife Tina of Chugiak and Patti Faulkner and husband Steve of Palmer; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Preceding her in death were her mother and stepfather, Helen and Crockett Metcalf of Anchorage; her infant daughter, Carolee; and her beloved husband, Gordy, in 2004.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Connie’s name to St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Monastery, 5 Timmer Lane, Goldendale, WA 98620.

Arrangements were by Valley Funeral Home.