Florence C. Nelson, BHS 1943?

Florence C. Nelson, BHS 1943?

Florence C. Nelson (1925-2011)

Florence C. Nelson was born in Elmwood, Ill., in 1925.
Her family traveled to California in 1926, eventually residing in Burbank. Florence attended school there and graduated from Burbank High School.

She enrolled in the U.S. Cadet Nursing program, and attended the University of Southern California and Los Angeles School of Nursing. Her final six months of nursing school were spent on affiliation with the Indian Service at the Pine Ridge Indian Hospital in South Dakota. She completed her training and graduated in 1947, going on to pass her California State Boards to become a Registered Nurse the same year.

At the age of 23, she came to Klamath Falls to assume full charge of surgery in the old Hillside Hospital. She married Dr. Arthur M. Compton and eventually quit nursing to stay at home and raise her four wonderful children.

Divorcing in 1964, she reactivated her nursing license and resumed nursing in the emergency room at Klamath Valley Hospital. When the new Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital opened (now renamed Sky Lakes Medical Center), she transferred along with all personnel from the old hospital and continued working in surgery.

In 1969, she married Raymond G. Nelson, the purchasing manager and acting administrator of the medical center. Together, Florence and Ray shared in raising her four children and his five. Eventually, Florence was employed by Dr. Gerald Nicholson as his office nurse until he moved to Grants Pass. Subsequently, Florence was employed by Dr. E.E. Howard for 11 years until her retirement in 1985.

The Nelsons then spent many joyous times traveling in their fifth wheel in the U.S. and Canada. From 1986 to 2002, they alternated between their cabin at Rocky Point and their residence in Brookings, where they enjoyed fishing off the Oregon Coast. They also continued traveling, visiting much of the East Coast and the Southwest until Ray's health began to fail. Florence was able to keep Ray with her until his passing on May 23, 2008. God gave them the blessing of a happy marriage of almost 40 years.

Florence passed away on April 13, 2011. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Ray as well as her parents and her brother and sister.Florence is survived by her children and a multitude of friends, who loved her dearly. Please no flowers; remembrances may be sent to the Klamath Animal Shelter.

Published in Herald News on April 15, 2011