Karen Lovina Nelson

Karen Lovina Nelson, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, and devoted service. Karen was born on April 2, 1944, in Burbank, California, to Elwood and Marie Richardson. Raised in Burbank, Karen graduated from Burbank High School in 1962 and went on to attend Brigham Young University in both Provo, Utah, and Laie, Hawaii.

In 1965, Karen met the love of her life, Clyde Nelson, at a church dance. Their courtship included date nights at Bob’s Big Boy where Clyde charmed Karen with his stories and humor over burgers, shakes, and fries. Karen and Clyde fell in love and were soon engaged, leading to their marriage later that year in the Los Angeles Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 28, 1965. Together, they built a strong and loving home, raising six children with care, commitment, and enduring values.

Karen dedicated her life to her family and her faith. As a homemaker, she nurtured her children with warmth and wisdom. She served faithfully in numerous church callings and was always a source of comfort and guidance to those around her. In addition to her work at home, she also supported her husband’s dental practice and later in life worked as a collector for an advertising agency, earning top collector several times.

Karen was a woman of many talents and interests. She enjoyed reading, drawing, quilting, cooking, and playing the piano. Her love of history and politics was matched only by her devotion to her country—Karen was a true patriot with a deep appreciation for American heritage. Ever curious and intellectually engaged, Karen kept up with the news daily and never turned down a challenging crossword puzzle or a competitive game of Skip-Bo.

Karen was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Elwood and Marie Richardson, her cherished daughter Lisa, and her beloved son Jason. She is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 60 years, Clyde Nelson; her children Garett (Rachel) Nelson, Michael (Jennifer) Nelson, Katie (George) Williamson, and Jeff Nelson; and many grandchildren who will miss her deeply.

A private memorial service in honor of Karen’s life will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 6198 FM 105, Vidor, Texas.

Karen will be remembered for her faith, her love of family, her quiet strength, and the countless lives she touched through her kindness and example.