Mary Elaine Nelson
Feb. 9, 1943 – Aug. 20, 2022

With great sadness, we announce the passing of Mary “Elaine” Hemphill Nelson. Elaine was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She passed away peacefully on August 20, 2022. Elaine was born in San Bernardino and raised in Colorado before moving to McKinleyville with her family as a teenager. She attended Arcata High School graduating with the class of 1960. As a junior at AHS, she met a dashing young man from Eureka High School while roller skating at what is now the old creamery building in Arcata. Elaine and Mark Nelson were soon engaged and were married for 61 years before his passing in 2021.

Elaine was retired after early years of working in the restaurant industry and then alongside her husband in later years at various retail businesses they owned and operated in Humboldt County. Elaine enjoyed her time in retirement walking her furry companion Tige, shopping and lunch dates with friends and attending services at the Church of the Nazarene.

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband Mark Nelson, her parents Mary Poff Coyles and Carl Hemphill, her in-laws Leo Nelson and Olga Nelson, her brother in-laws Roger Nelson and Greg Nelson and her son-in-law Michael Jones. She leaves behind her daughters Nanette Jones and Suzanne Lovitt, son-in-law Chris Lovitt, grandsons Travis Jones, Tyler Jones (Angie) and Jordan Jones (Jessica) and granddaughter Carly Lovitt (Justin). Elaine is also survived by her sister Melba Hopkins and brother-in-law Charles Hopkins, nephew Sean Hopkins (Christine), niece Kristin Gennari (Steve) and her aunt and best friend Juanita Coyles. She will be missed by her four great grandchildren and especially by her dog Tige.

Special thank you to the caring staff at Hospice of Humboldt.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Elaine Nelson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.