NELSON, Ernest Graham

The Daily Miner, Kingman, AZ 3/16/2010 On Thursday, March 11, 2010, Ernest Graham Nelson passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side. Ernest was born June 7, 1938, in Peach Springs, to John L. Nelson and Mary Garrehy Nelson. The Nelsons were a pioneering family of ranchers and railroaders; Ernest was the youngest of 12: Margaret, Frances "Faye," Gertrude, Velma "Louise," John "Walapai," Charles, William "Billy," James "Jimmy," Donald "Duck," David "Mike" and the sole surviving sister, Mary Rose "Cookie." Ernest graduated from Seligman High in 1957 from a class of 10. He attended NAU for only one year. After college he became a working cowboy on the X-BAR Ranch in Hackberry. Later he followed in his father's footsteps and became a deputy sheriff for Mohave County. In 1961, Ernie found his soon-to-be wife, Elaine, in the Quamacho Café in Peach Springs. Elaine's uncle owned the café and she was working there for the summer. Ernie was drafted into the Army at the age of 23, during the Kennedy era, and served for two years. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to Kingman to become a police officer and start a family. In 1967, he went to work for Ford Motor Company Proving Grounds located at Yucca. Ernie continued to work for Ford until he retired in 1999 as a track supervisor. Ernie and Elaine were married for 48 years and had two children, a son, Ernest Nelson, and a daughter, Stacey Whitaker. Ernie loved to hunt, fish, read western novels, but most of all he loved to entertain his grandchildren, Lauren Whitaker, Lindsey Nelson and Cody Nelson. Ernie touched the lives of countless friends and family and left a lasting memory with everyone who knew him. Our family would like to than all those who helped up at New Hope Hospice. Any donations could be made to New Hope Hospice in his memory. Friends and family are invited to a celebration of life to be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 20, at 265 Greenway Drive in Kingman.