Florence Merrell Nielsen, 87 of Safford, Ariz., died July 11, 2000 at the home of her daughter, VeNeice Williams.

She was born Sept. 14, 1912 in Vernal, the daughter of William Porter and Mary Lybbert Merrell. She married Lester D. Nielsen on May 26, 1930 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He died in 1985. They had 13 children. She raised her family in the following cities: Vernal; Moses Lake, Wash; Mesa, Ariz., Ajo, Ariz.; and Fairview.

She began working as a nurse's aid at the Vernal Hospital in 1954 and worked at several hospitals throughout her life. She graduated from the Mesa Community College Program of Nursing at the age of 57. After which she was employed by Phelps Dodge Corporation at the New Cornelia Hospital in Ajo. She retired from Phelps Dodge in 1974.

After retirement, she adopted and reared three more children. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many organizational capacities and served as a missionary in the Albuquerque, N.M. Mission at the age of 79.

Her special interests were making pioneer-style quilts, crocheting afghans, food storage and reading.

She is survived by five daughters, six sons and a daughter-in-law, Eloise (Harold) Larsen, Orem; VeNeice (Glyn) Williams, Safford, Ariz.; Lorraine (Ray) Cunningham, Irrigon, Ore.; Geneva (James) Smith, Tacoma, Wash.; Brenda Joyce (Matthew) Morris, Kalamazoo, Mich.; Steven (Sharon) Nielsen and Craig (Wendy) Nielsen, Mesa; David (Ruth) Nielsen, St. Johns, Ariz.; George (Julie) Nielsen, Murray; Fernando (Melissa) Nielsen, Temple, Texas; Jesse Nielsen, Logan; and daughter-in-law, Sherry Nielsen, Orem; 45 grandchildren; and 66 great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by one sister, Winona Wonnacott, St. George; a very special cousin who was raised as a sister, Lillian Olsen, Salt Lake City; and two brothers, LaVoir (Voneil) Merrell, Provo; J. Sterling Merrell, Lehi; and a sister-in-law, Wilma Merrell, Salt Lake City.

She was preceded in death by an adult son, John Merrell Nielsen; and infant children, JeNeice, Kerry, Paula and Stuart Francis; as well as the following brothers and sisters, Porter, William, Victor, Bernard, Arthur, Irene, Lucile and Elva.

Funeral services will be held in Vernal at the Naples Ward Chapel on Saturday, July 22 at 11 a.m. Friends may call on Friday from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Hullinger-Jolley Funeral Home and on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. prior to the services at the chapel.

Interment will be in the Vernal Memorial Park under the direction of the Hullinger-Jolley Funeral Home.

(Misc. Obitcentral Uintah County Obituaries)