Molly Lillian Nelson

Molly Lillian Nelson was born in Eugene, OR on February 16, 2006. She lived there in Eugene and Kennewick, WA for a short time but called Hillsdale, in SW Portland, home for most of her life. She died at home in Portland, OR, on August 12th, 2025.

Molly attended schools in SW Portland at Hayhurst Elementary, Robert Gray Middle School, and then graduated high school from Ida B. Wells in 2024. She attended freshman year at Oregon State University. Molly was studying in the College of Health.

Molly was a sweet little girl who loved to play with her sister Brenna, her pets, and her friends. As she grew up, Molly loved to read and she accumulated an extensive library that she took great pride in. She particularly liked fantasy novels and drama. She enjoyed doing puzzles and could put together a 2000 piece puzzle in as little as 2 nights. She was a fun partner in card games, board games, and video games. She became a self taught expert at crochet and produced dresses, tops, skirts, and most importantly, hats and sweaters for the cats. Molly was into astrology and also a fashionista who enjoyed clothes, shopping, and fashion magazines. Tinkering with Lego’s and Book Nooks brought her enjoyment, she bought and completed her last Lego set while in Rome, just the other week. She loved her stuffed animals until the day she died. She was super smart and unassumingly witty, she knew what was what. Molly loved going on vacations and had just returned from a wonderful week in Rome with her mom and sister.

Molly was so strong, brave, and stoic. She endured a fractured hip when she was just 11 years old resulting in 2 surgeries and a constant ache. Then there was the dreaded social media and next came Covid, social distancing, and distance learning in 8th and 9th grades. She wasn’t afraid to try and she tried the best she could.

Molly is survived by her mother, Beth Armentrout, her father Ronald Nelson, and her loving older sister Brenna Nelson. She left behind beloved cats Fred and Posi and she died on her dog Chip’s 12th birthday. Grandparents Barry and Linda Armentrout. Uncle Scott Armentrout, Aunt Lisa Armentrout, cousins Kyle and Callie Armentrout. Molly is also survived by many friends and supporters and extended family in Oregon and Ohio.

~ Meaningful Organizations to Molly were:

The Oregon Humane Society https://www.oregonhumane.org/

Kauai Community Cat Project https://kauaicommunitycats.org/

Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary, Rome, Italy https://www.gattidiroma.net/web/en

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to any of these organizations.

~ A celebration of Molly’s life is TBA.

Molly’s laughter, her sharp wit, her compassion, and her courage will never be forgotten. She will always remain close in our hearts.