Ila Nelson

West Jordan - Ila Jean Potts Nelson, 86, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt passed peacefully at home on Jan. 14, 2014 with her family by her side. She was born April 23, 1927 in Silver City, Utah (now a ghost town) to Elon Ladelle Allen and Harold Van Potts. After the mines ran out in 1930, the family moved to Eureka, UT. From there they went to Pioche, NV; then American Fork, UT before finally settling in Salt Lake City, UT when she was about 10 or 11. Ila was the oldest of 6 children. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ila attended West High School, graduating in 1944 and attended one year at Brigham Young University. Ila married her high school sweetheart, Franklyn Stewart Nelson (Col., Retired US Army), for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on Sept. 21, 1946. During their early married years they first lived in Fort Carson, CO until her husband was sent to fight in the Korean War. At that time, Ila went back to Utah where she worked and lived with family. After the war, they were stationed at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, CA where their first child, Franklyn Stewart Nelson, Jr. was born on June 5, 1956. Next they moved to Camp Hanford in Richland, WA where their daughter, Karen Lynn Nelson (Foster) was born on Aug. 9, 1958. From there, the army sent them to various places to live/work and go to school: Fort Leavenworth, KS; SHAPE, NATO Headquarters in Paris, France; the Pentagon in Washington, DC (lived in Annandale, VA); Homestead Air Force Base, Homestead, FL; the Army War College, Carlisle, PA; back to the Pentagon; Seoul, South Korea and finally as commander of Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City, UT. During this time Ila supported her husband in everything he did. She also became involved with other officers wives in these various locations where she performed charitable works such as hospital volunteer. In Korea, she did the buying for the Officer’s Wives Gift Shop and eventually managed it. Ila was very poised, often being asked to model clothing in fashion shows held by the officer’s wives clubs. Her most important role, however, was that of wife, mother and homemaker.

Ila’s eternal companion passed away May 19, 1981, just 5 months after retiring from a 36 year Army career. Just prior to Frank’s passing, his mother passed away and so Ila moved in with her father-in-law, Frank Merlin Nelson and was care taker and companion until his passing. During this time, she also worked at Jolley Drug at 9th and 9th in Salt Lake for several years. Ila did whatever she could for her family. After her husband’s passing, Ila purchased a home in Sugar House for her son to live in while he completed his schooling at the U of U. She traveled often to Laramie, WY to visit her daughter Karen and her family, wanting to be involved in the lives of her grand-children. She spent time with her sister-in-law, Dorothy Newman, traveling to various foreign countries while enjoying her companionship. Ila also enjoyed spending time with her sisters and their families. She often went camping with them and every year she went on a “sister” trip with sisters, Frances, Dorothy, Donna and niece Janice. They enjoyed being together and made many memories. “Aunt Ila” also enjoyed being involved with and getting to know her many nieces and nephews. She had sleep overs with some of her nieces, helped to support several of her nephews on their missions, invited nephew, Jeff Moore, to live with her for awhile, and tried to attend every bridal and baby shower that she could.

In August of 1991, Karen and her family moved to Utah, living with Ila that first year in the home she rented from her niece’s husband, and then moving with them when they purchased a home in Taylorsville, UT the following year. She loved being close to her grand-children and attended many of their functions and activities, sometimes as surrogate parent when they couldn’t get off work. After several years, her father became ill and needed extra care, so Ila moved to Bountiful, UT to help him. When she could no longer care for him herself, he went to live in the Bear River care center in Tremonton, UT and at that time, Ila moved in with her sister Frances and brother-in-law Larry Moore to be close to her dad. She lived in Tremonton for several years, moving back to Taylorsville, UT to live with daughter Karen and family again in 2003. She began referring to herself as the “traveling relative”.

Ila enjoyed many hobbies, including: traveling, crossword puzzles, watching old movies, playing card games with her sisters, reading, “hooking” (she made many hooked rugs which she gave away to family and friends – her family called her the “happy hooker”!), and more reading. Ila was an introvert, but loved people and took an interest in everyone she met or came in contact with. She had quite a sense of humor and even towards the end of her life she was saying things to bring levity to the situation. Ila never complained about anything and was grateful for even the smallest things done for her. She was also very generous and helped to support her grand-children while they pursued their various educational opportunities. Her last greatest loves were her great grand-children, Kaylor (4) and Rexton (2) and was grateful they were able to come to Utah this past Christmas.

Ila’s legacy includes her faith in her savior Jesus Christ, her love for all of her family members, her dedication and dependability, her generosity and her grateful spirit.

Ila is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Allen Van Potts; her eternal companion, Franklyn Stewart Nelson (Col., Retired US Army); her son, Franklyn Stewart Nelson, Jr; and brothers-in-law: Hank Williams, Russell Henriod, Larry Moore and Grant Goble. She is survived by: daughter, Karen (Jeff) Foster, West Jordan, UT; daughter-in-law, Trish Crowley Nelson, Alameda, CA; grand children: Cory Foster (Katie Celich-Troyer), Murray, UT; Nicole (Jeff) Larsen, Thornton, CO; Cameron Foster, Oskaloosa, IA attending William Penn University; great grand-children: Kaylor and Rexton Larsen; sisters: JoAnn Williams, Las Cruces, NM; Frances Moore, Tremonton, UT; Dorothy Henriod, Morgan, UT and Donna Goble, West Valley City, UT; sister-in-law, Carolyn Potts Carlton, Highland, UT; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express sincere thanks to the staff of Copper Ridge Health Center, Symbii Hospice and the Welby 2nd Ward Relief Society for their exceptional care and for the respect and dignity they showed to Ila over various times during the past 10 months.

Services for Ila will be held on Friday January 24, 2014 at Noon at the Welby 2nd Ward LDS Chapel, 9376 South 4000 West, West Jordan under the direction of Rogers & Taylor Funeral Home, Tremonton, UT. There will be a viewing prior to the service from 10:00-11:45 am. Interment will be in the Fort Douglas Cemetery.