Carol McCombs Nelson, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 60, surrounded by her family, on March 1, 2024, after nearly 3 years of valiantly enduring the effects of ovarian cancer.
Carol was born on April 27, 1963, in Portland, Oregon to Dr. Rey Hutchinson McCombs and Eva Louise Henderson McCombs while her father was attending dental school. She grew up in Merced, California as the fourth of six children.
She attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Merced. She attended both Brigham Young University and Weber State University, graduating with an RDH Degree as a Registered Dental Hygienist in 1985.
Carol was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and faithfully served in her callings throughout her life. She served as a full-time missionary in the Baguio, Philippines Mission from 1986 to 1987. This included time working as a welfare sister in the Bataan Philippines Refugee Camp working with Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laos refugees who were displaced from their countries at that time.
Carol met her husband Rick Scott Nelson on a blind date in Salt Lake City. She was a practicing Dental Hygienist and he was finishing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Utah. They began dating and built a close friendship and love that would last more than 35 years. They were married and sealed in the Oakland, California Temple on November 19, 1988.
Rick and Carol worked as a unified team to build an amazing life together. Carol worked through many serious health and other issues, including the difficult task of coping with the loss of her son, Christian. Carol never shied away from a challenge however and was always ready to put in the work necessary to make things better for herself and her family.
More than anything, Carol wanted to become a wife and mother. She was a devoted mother of 3 children, Mitchell, Courtney, and Christian, as well as grandmother to 3 wonderful grandsons. Carol was actively involved in her children’s schools in the classroom and with their projects. She loved spending time with her family. Her children and their families were the joy of her life.
Rick and Carol moved their young family to Seoul, South Korea in 1991, where they lived until late 1997. They also started several businesses in the Philippine Islands. Carol also helped Rick co-found and start their own marketing company during the pandemic in 2020. Their company now operates in North America and is actively developing Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and several African countries including Nigeria and Ghana.
Carol lived a life of service and sacrifice for others that reflected the pure love of Jesus Christ with everyone she met. Even during the intense and challenging years of cancer and related treatments, she took opportunities to speak to and thank those who attended to her and provided support and encouragement to them. Carol will always be remembered for her smile, contagious laugh, caring heart, and desire to make a difference with everyone who knew her.
Carol is survived by her beloved husband, Rick Scott Nelson, and her children: Mitchell Rick Nelson(Melissa), and Courtney Nelson Erwin (Marcus). Her grandsons, Remington Francis Nelson, Rowan Rey Nelson, and Calvin Christian Erwin. Her sisters: Marilyn McCombs Pettit (Scott), Dr. Kathleen McCombs; and brother, Dr. Ronald H. McCombs; and her stepmother, LauraLee McCombs. She was preceded in death by her son, Christian Rey Nelson; her parents Dr. Rey H. McCombs and Eva Louise Henderson McCombs; her sisters Reva McCombs and Lisa McCombs Quilter.
All are invited to the viewing and funeral service which will be held at the LDS Church located at 5450 S. Holladay Blvd., Holladay, Utah. The viewing will be held on Friday, March 15, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 11:30 am with a viewing from 10:00 am to 11:15 am.
Interment will be held in Afton, Wyoming at the Afton Cemetery on March 17, 2024, at 12:00 pm.
