Diane Nelson

Diane Narice Clawson Nelson, 85, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2015 in Lakewood, CA. She was the daughter of Ben W Clawson and Dorothy Audrey (Goldney-Cary) Clawson. She is survived by her daughter Narice Altier and son-in-law Richard Altier; son, Ziff Nelson; and daughter Wendy Nelson. Diane was born in Santa Monica, CA on July 4, 1929. As a young child she believed that all the fireworks and celebrations on the 4th of July were for her birthday. Diane attended Excelsior High School in Norwalk, CA, and was a star field hockey player and honors student at Long Beach City College. She then served as a missionary in the Eastern States Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She married Fred Hyrum Nelson (who predeceased her on January 10, 2011) in the Mesa Arizona Temple on Valentine's Day, 1956. Diane loved teachingespecially teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. She was an early-morning seminary teacher for over 40 years, influencing the lives of hundreds of local high school students. One of her favorite admonitions to her students was, "Remember who you are and whose you are." She also enjoyed teaching the Gospel Doctrine class on Sundays in the Lakewood 3rd and 4th Wards. She was self-less and hard-working and believed in using all of her God-given time on the earth wisely. After having her children, Diane went to CSULB to earn her Bachelor's Degree and teaching credential in Physical Education. She would often remark how it was a little harder to compete in all of the required physical feats against a bunch of 20-yr-olds. She taught P.E. for a short time in the Long Beach School District, and then taught in the Bellflower Unified School District. Besides P.E. and exercise classes at convalescent homes, she taught CPR and First Aide classes, and was the go-to' person to get re-certified in CPR. Her CPR skills came in handy when she had to revive a granddaughter who fell into the swimming pool. Diane is also survived by her ten grandchildren: Dawn, Justin, Autumn and Jonathan (Lacey) Altier; Hannah (Adam McBarron), Rebecca and Robert Roth and Tristan Miller; Benjamynn and Dannyel Nelson, and one great-grandson Van, with two more great-grandchildren on the way. Services will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 17660 Carpintero Ave, Bellflower, CA, 90706.