Nancy was born in Salida, Colorado. She was the fourth child of Phyllis Opal Jacobs (1899 – 1976) and Clarence Fabian Carlson (1896 – 1988). As a child she moved to Denver, Colorado, with her family. At the tender age of 16, Nancy eloped to marry Marvin Lloyd Samuelson (1927 – 2008) on December 27, 1945, and they established a home in Denver, CO, defying the odds and enjoying 63 years together.
Her life path is brilliant with sparkling shards from all the glass ceilings she shattered over the decades. Defying convention in 1955, she began working as a full-time employee for the Denver Dry Goods Company. Many Colorado residents fondly recall the store’s motto, "Where Colorado Shops with Confidence," Her career at ”The Denver” spanned 32 years where she worked as a stock girl, saleswoman, department manager, buyer and, finally, the Denver’s first female executive store manager until her retirement in 1987. She and Marvin then joined an antiques and collectibles consortium, The Stage Stop Antique Mall, for twenty years before stepping back from retail business altogether.
Nancy is survived by one sister, Sue Ann Carlson De Luca; a daughter, Lois Adair Samuelson Fornander; three grandchildren, Christina Marie Fornander, Nancy Michelle Fornander and John Garold Fornander; and two great grandchildren, Alexis Adair Stampka and Jordan Allen Stampka.
A celebration of life will be held on December 6th at 11:00 am in the Pavilion at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary, 7777 West 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Immediately following the interment, a catered reception will be in Heritage Hall, next to the Pavilion.
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