Marion Mae Nelson (Danny) 1924-2022

Marion (Danny) Mae Nelson passed away peacefully at home with her daughters & son in law by her side and Stardust playing in the background on Easter Sunday. Marion was born in Austin, Minnesota on May 21, 1924 to Eugene and Ruth Daniels. They lived on a farm near Blooming Prairie, Minnesota and later settled on a farm near the village of Havelock.

Marion attended Havelock High School and graduated in 1942, then went on to business school in Des Moines, Iowa. She worked for a time at an ordinance plant. She joined the Navy on her 20th birthday and soon met the love of her life, Robert Nelson at a USO in the basement of a Babtist Church in Oklahoma where they danced the night away. They were married on February 3, 1945 in Chicago. After his tour of duty Robert returned to Minnesota and they started a family. They finally settled in Mendocino in 1954 with 3 young boys in tow, Robert, Brian and Steven. They were later to have two more girls, Lynne & Lisa. Marion was an active member of the Mendocino Presbyterian Church for more than 65 years. She also was a member of the Mendocino Study Cub. She was a Den Mother of the Boy Scouts for a time and also taught Sunday School. She worked in several boutiques in her younger years and then worked at Glendeven Inn for 24 years. She was active in the early years of the Art Center where she played the lead role in the play “Harvey”. Marion was an avid reader and loved to take long walks and went to water aerobics until she was 94 years old. Marion was preceded in death by her parents Eugene & Ruth Daniels, husband Robert, brothers Richard & Boyd, son Steven, sister Lila and many in laws. Marion is survived by sons Robert (Lily), Brian (Catherine), daughters Lynne Bearden & Lisa Graydon (Jerry) 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Services will be held at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church on May 21 at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Mendocino Presbyterian Church.