Nellie Pilcher

Nellie Geneve Kenison Pilcher

1922-2014

KAYSVILLE – Nellie died at North Canyon Care Center in Bountiful, Utah on Thursday, June 12, 2014. She has joined her sweetheart of 70 years along with parents, siblings and numerous friends.

Nellie was born on September 30, 1922 in Ola, Arkansas to William J. Kenison and Edna Earline Brewer Kenison, where she became the oldest of five children. Lillian (surviving, and Willine, Bonnie and Teddie all deceased).  The family later moved to Oklahoma and on to Ignacio, Colorado. Nellie graduated from Ignacio High School as valedictorian and went on to attend Fort Lewis College in Helsperus, Colorado. Fort Lewis was where she met Woodrow Pilcher.

Woodrow had received his draft notice to report for duty on October 19, 1941 in Denver, Colorado. By this time, they had been dating for awhile. So they decided they would elope on Saturday, September 30, 1941 to Aztec, New Mexico, where they were married. They decided to be married on that date because they already shared birthdays on that date. After their marriage, Woodrow took Nellie home to Ignacio and he returned to his home in Cherry Creek and they told no one about the marriage. Woodrow’s enlistment was to be for one year.

Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941, so it changed their plans. Nellie and Woodrow were not to see one another until 1944. In 1944, Nellie joined Woodrow in Ft. Knox, Kentucky where their oldest child “Patsy” was born on June 22, 1945. When Woodrow was honorably discharged from the Army on September 30, 1945, they traveled to the Bay area of California to look for work, because Nellie’s family was there. They did not like California, so they traveled to Utah where Woodrow’s brother, Delbert had a service station and he needed help.

Nellie and Woodrow bought a home in Kaysville, Utah in January 1946, where they lived for 67 years. Two more children joined the family, Russell, born October 20, 1947, and William “Bill,” born May 10, 1954. Nellie was very active in the American Legion Auxiliary. She retired from Hill Air Force Base after 20 years of service on December 31, 1982.

After their retirement they traveled extensively and were still active volunteers at Autumn Glow Senior Center in Kaysville. Nellie is survived by her sister Lillian (Lacy, WA), three children: Patricia (Edward) Lee of Kaysville, UT; Russell (Carroll) of Prescott, AZ, William (Denyce Verti) of Caldwell, ID; 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

Nellie’s family would like to thank Rocky Mountain Hospice for their love and care for the last three years, especially her nurse, Melissa and nursing assistant, Amber. We would also like to thank all of the staff at North Canyon Care in Bountiful, UT for their excellent care and love during Nellie’s stay there.

Nellie has requested that she be cremated and that there be no services held. She will be buried in the Kaysville Cemetery on Monday, June 23, 2014.

Arrangements entrusted to Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd.

The family wishes to express their thanks to Lindquist’s Mortuary for their help in making final arrangements for Nellie.