Evelyn Joy Nelson

Evelyn Joy Nelson was born February 15, 1929 in Beloit, Kansas and passed away August 5, 2015 in Raymore, MO. She is survived by her daughter Debbie Wills of the home and 3 granddaughters Jennifer, Carrie and Victoria; two grandsons Lonnie and Chad; and 6 great grandchildren; Britton, Tyler, Jasmine, Jackson, Maddox and Maverick.

Her younger years were spent in Burlington, Kansas where her parents owned the only restaurant in town. She remembers at a very young age having to come home from school and work in the restaurant until it closed. She met and married Otto Helton at the age of 18. They live in Denver, Colorado. Otto was a floor layer until his death in 1973, they were married 26 years. A few years later she met and married Clifford Nelson, he passed away in 2007. They moved to Kansas City in 2002 to be near family.

Evelyn loved animals, she loved to go fishing, she loved adventures and new experiences. She loved to take the grandkids to Worlds of Fun when she would visit even though she didn't like to ride rides. When we would visit Colorado we would always go to the mountains, horseback riding, play poker and solitaire, pan for gold, Benihana, Casa Bonita, trails end (The place with the slide where they cut off your tie) or tubing in the Platte River! She was such a fun Grandma. We grew up camping and fishing almost every weekend during summertime. One of my favorite memories is the many vacations our family took each and every year while I was growing up. It was always a car trip and I got to visit many states with my mother and father! They made sure I experienced many things as a child I took my first plane ride in the 1950s because they wanted me to have that experience. It was only to Grand Junction, Colorado and they drove up and picked me up.

Evelyn collected music boxes for many years and had hundreds of them. For the last several years anytime anyone would visit she would let them pick one out as a memento to take with them. Another great love of Evelyn were scary movies, gory horror flicks were her favorite. She loved the zombies and ghost stories and anything weird like that. For many years mom and I would watch Lawrence Welk 5 o'clock on Saturday night, and sing the songs together. It is a great memory. In her younger years Otto and Clifford both loved to dance (with mom) and would go to Glenn Miller and other big band dance places to dance. She was a giving loving sharing Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma.

A Celebration of Life was held at the 1st Baptist Church in Grandview, MO. At 7:00 PM preceded by a visitation from 5 – 7 PM. Cremation with inurnment in Mt. Lindo Cemetery in Tiny Town, Colorado. Contribution may be made to Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, MO. Condolences may be left at mcgilleygeorgebelton.com. (Arrangements by McGilley and George Funeral Home, Belton, MO 64012 816-966-0250)