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Elaine M. Nelson

Elaine Moonyean Nelson, 79, of Vashon Island, WA, and a native of Huntington, IN, died Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, at Vashon Community Care Center.

Mrs. Nelson studied and taught music and performed with The Honolulu Harmonizers on radio station WOWO, Fort Wayne. She had lived in Germany; Fort Lewis, WA; and Okinawa before moving to Bellingham, WA, in 1969 and living there until 2007. She was a Girl Scout leader and was active in the PTA.

She was born April 1, 1933, in Huntington to Arthur Leroy "Roy" and Opal Call Cheesman. She married Darl Dean Nelson on Aug. 15, 1954, and they were married for 27 years.

Survivors include four daughters, Lorelei (Peter) Carlander and Christine (Tim) Marsh, both of Vashon, WA; Karen (Richard) Rasmussen, of Ocean Shores, WA; and Kathryn (David) Weiss, of Bellingham, WA; a sister, Lorraine Cheesman Black, of Mesa, AZ; a brother, Robert Cheesman, of Bellingham, WA; 12 grandchildren, Nicholas Carlander, Matthew Carlander, Brandon Marsh, William Marsh, Christopher Rasmussen, Nathan Rasmussen, Lucas Rasmussen, Elisa Weiss, Tristan Weiss, Kiersten Nelson, Foster Nelson and Eric Nelson; and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at 2 p.m. on Vashon Island, WA.

Memorial gifts may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation or to Vashon Community Care.

Island Funeral Service, Vashon, WA, is in charge of arrangements.