Marian Elaine Johnson Nelson
1933 - 2019
Long time Provo resident, Marian Nelson, passed away on February 25, 2019
Marian was born in Salt Lake City on February 7, 1933 to Lila Cohn and Orson Johnson. She grew up in Salt Lake where she attended Highland Park Elementary, Irving Junior High and South High schools.
Marian enjoyed many jobs in her youth. The one highlight she frequently mentioned was working for a small Dunford Bakery on Stratford Avenue. It was said that only Marian could perfectly use the slicer on a hot loaf of bread. She also worked at the Mayflower Café in downtown Salt Lake City.
Marian married David Eldon Nelson in 1951 and moved with him to be stationed at Ft. Lee Virginia. They were later divorced.
Marian lived in Utah, Virginia, California, Arizona and Texas. At times in these areas she was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was involved in providing activities for the youth. Her fondest memory is of when she helped direct and produce Road Shows. Later she would go through the Temple.
Education was a focal point for Marian, who was an avid reader and took classes at Scottsdale Community College and the University of Arizona.
In the 70’s Marian learned computer programming, before computers were in every home. She worked for UNIVAC who bought out the Dell Webb Corporation and later for Lomas and Nettleton where she advanced to become a Senior Vice President.
Marian left the corporate world in the late 1980’s to pursue her dream of being a writer and more specifically a screenwriter. She entered Brigham Young University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Screenwriting and later a Master’s Degree in English. While at BYU she was a teaching assistant and after graduation she taught English at Utah State University.
Marian traveled throughout the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. She also traveled to Hong Kong, China, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Spain and South Korea. Wherever she went she gathered sea shells and rocks.
Her love of nature and the outdoors was not lost on her yard and neighborhood in Provo. She loved working in her yard and walking throughout the area, a practice which continued through the most recent winter. She was very fond of the Kiwanis Park that was close by.
Marian is survived by her children, Michelle Nelson, Mark Nelson (Tina) and Nancy Nelson. Two children preceded her in death, Michael and Kim. She is also survived by a brother and a sister. Marian leaves a legacy of 15 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at the Provo Peak 5th Ward, 965 N. Locust Lane, Provo, UT. There will be a visitation from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church.
Interment will be in the Provo Cemetery.
