Mary Lou Nelson was born in Canon City on March 29, 1941 and died in Canon City on February 11, 2018.
She is survived by her husband, Leonard “Steve”; daughter, Laura Elizabeth (Brad) Gordon and grandson, Henry-all of St. Paul, Minnesota; sisters, Jackie and Judie Moorhead, of Buena Vista; sister-in-law, Suzanne (Tom) Coleman; nephews, Chris (Crystal) and Michael (Holly), all of Canon City; sister-in-law, Becky Moorhead of Granbury Texas; niece, Tracey Howe of San Antonio, Texas; and nephew, Craig (Jillyn)Howe of Colorado Springs; nephew, John (Leela) Smith of West Jordon, Utah and nephew, Jeff Smith of Fort Collins, Colorado; great-nieces, Sarah, Andrea, Baylee, and Lucy; and great-nephews, Nicholas, Carter, Keaton, Dylan, Mason, and Gavin.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Louise and Nelson Moorhead; and brother, William Wesley “Butch” Moorhead.
Mary Lou and her husband graduated together in 1959 from Canon City High School. Following high school she attended CSU-Fort Collins and graduated with honors, first with her BA degree and then with her MA in business education.
Mary Lou and Leonard married on June 16, 1963 in the First Baptist Church of Canon City. They moved to the Denver area where Mary Lou taught business and office education in the Westminster Schools for 34 years. She was very active in promoting vocational education at both the local and state level. The highlight of her career was being elected president of the Colorado Vocational Association (CVA.)
Mary Lou retired from teaching in 1997 and when Leonard also retired they moved back to Canon City. Here Mary Lou selected to give back to the community from which she acquired so much--especially the core basics: integrity, values, and ethics. She was very active in the United Presbyterian Church serving as Church Clerk, teaching Sunday school, singing in the Chancel Choir, and participating in Gloria dei Circle. She was one of the founders of the Greenwood Pioneer Committee and served as its president for many years. She soon discovered Senior Mini College and served on the advisory board as well as teaching classes. She involved herself in the Fremont Retired School Employees Association serving as co-president with her longtime friend (also from the Westminster schools,) Lorraine Kennec.
In her “spare” time Mary Lou enjoyed traveling with friends and family. She took road trips from coast to coast but she especially loved cruising. Together she and Leonard saw much of the world during their 30 plus cruises.
Visitation, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, February 15, at Holt Family Chapel of the Garden. Funeral service, 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 16, 2018, United Presbyterian Church, Seventh Street and Macon Avenue. Burial will follow in Lakeside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Colorado Chapter, 455 Sherman Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80203-4405

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