Harold Nelson

Harold Lynn Nelson was born in Provo, Utah on August 28, 1957 to K. LeRoi and Ina Shepherd Nelson. He was named after a dear family friend, Harold DeLaMare and Harold B. Lee. He was a fun baby but as he grew he began showing signs of learning difficulties. He attended the BYU Demonstration School in Provo, which was established for mentally challenged students.

He loved to do things with his dad, especially outdoor activities. He even had his own special horse. He liked going on picnics and camping with his family. He enjoyed helping with work projects in Provo Canyon as the family built a cabin and later a home. He also enjoyed going deer hunting. He traveled with family to visit all 50 states and collected key chains and hats along the way.

He was raised in the Provo Oak Hills area and had many special friends at different stages of his life. One of the handicaps he felt most keenly in his adult life was watching his friends go to college, serve on missions, get married and have families. He was at times frustrated by the limitations that left him behind.

It was natural for Harold to get involved with Scouting. A tape recorder allowed him to give oral reports for Merit Badge requirements. Patient leaders helped him to complete the required 21 Merit Badges to become the first mentally handicapped Eagle Scout in Utah. He was chosen by fellow scouts to become a member of the Order of the Arrow (OA), achieved the rank of Vigil and attended five national OA conferences. He went with a group of scouts on the "Rim to Rim and Back" hike in the Grand Canyon.

Harold lived for 25 years in Deseret Village, a group home in Spanish Fork. For 9 years he rode his bicycle six miles to the BYU Dairy Farm south of Spanish Fork helping to care for the newborn calves. He served as a volunteer worker at the Deseret Industries in Provo. It was there that he was invited to be the Santa Claus during the Christmas season. He was a natural Santa with a big HO HO HO. It seemed like everyone in Spanish Fork knew Harold; he made special friends with the police, fire department, Stone Drug and many merchants.

He moved to St. George to live with his parents in 2009. He enjoyed hiking with his dad in the red rocks of Southern Utah. He enjoyed his association and participation with the Special Needs Mutual. He also brightened the lives of many with his Santa Claus visits and helpful neighborhood services.

Harold loved people and people loved him. He liked to make a special fruit salad that he generously shared with everyone who came to visit. His last special calling was to hold the doors open at church and help the seniors with canes and walkers to come into and leave the building.

His new handicap for the past year was the need to have oxygen. It was only the last few days that this oxygen problem became more serious and resulted in his passing on March 29, 2013. Family and friends will miss Harold's radiant smile and optimism.

The funeral will be Friday, April 5, 2013, in the Morningside Stake Center located at 881 South River Road in St. George, Utah at 12:00 noon. Visitation with family and friends will be at the same location Thursday, April 4th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm and from 10:30 to 11:30 am on Friday, April 5th.