Sharon Louise Nelson

Sharon Louise Nelson came into this world on November 17, 1936, in Flint, Michigan. She was the daughter of Kenneth Homer Smith and Margaret Leone (Stevens) Smith. She was born into a loving family which included Shirley Virginia (Smith) Dipzenski, half-sister, Kenneth Arthur Smith, half brother, Phyliss Ann Smith, half-sister), and 12 years later, her sister, MarKaye Leone (Smith) Larson. All have preceded her in death. She was married to Paul Milton Nelson, on June 22, 1956. He also preceded her in death. She is survived by her four children, Kenneth Nelson (Charlene), Terri Pulley (Jerry), Brian Nelson, and Steven Nelson (Yu Xiahua). She is also survived by 15 of 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Sharon had the rare gift of perfect pitch and took piano, organ and voice lessons starting at a very young age. She attended BYU where she was a member of the Opera Workshop. She also studied voice at Redlands University and with Private instructors. She was engaged in a professional singing career. She also taught piano for 20 years and belonged to the National Music Teachers Association.

She also worked as a bank teller, a secretary, and a supervisor with New York Life Insurance Company. This was to help pay for her children’s college and church missions. She retired from New York Life to travel with her husband.

Sharon was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she had many callings in the ward and stake. She was Relief Society President twice, Stake Music Chairman, Stake Young Women’s Presidency, Choir Director, And all ward music positions. She and her husband served a mission in the Riverside California Mission where they handled all of the housing responsibilities for the missionaries. They later served in the Redlands Temple.

She was a cancer survivor twice. After her husband passed away, she sold her home in Murrieta and returned to Riverside. After years of poor health she passed away quietly in her sleep on the morning of December 26, 2024.