Carol Nelson

Carol Nelson, born on August 15, 1948, bid her final farewell on June 22, 2024, in Bowling Green, Ky. She was surrounded by love as she peacefully passed away.

Carol's memory will be cherished during a Memorial Service to be held at Cone Funeral Home on June 27, 2024, starting at 2:00 PM and concluding at 4:00 PM. The address for the service is 1510 Campbell Lane, Bowling Green, KY 42104. It will be a time of remembrance and celebration of a life well-lived.

In the hearts of those who knew her best, Carol will forever remain a beacon of love and kindness. She leaves behind a legacy that will be treasured by many.

Carol is survived by her loving husband Jimmy Ray Nelson, devoted daughter Jennifer Lynn Thiery; adoring grandchildren Victoria Scarlet Wurzelbacher ( Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher), Brianna Nicole Thiery, and Douglas Austin Thiery; as well as great-grandchildren Charlotte Kay Wurzelbacher and Scarlet Rae Wurzelbacher.

Her memory will also be carried on by her sister Janice Elaine Peterson, nephews Matthew Peterson (Sue), Eric Peterson (Laurie), Karen Swanson (Jim), and cousins Carl Strom, Gary Strom, Eric Strom, and Sharyl Lidner.

In the embrace of eternity, Carol joins her infant son Anthony "Tony" Arico in peace. She is welcomed into the arms of her parents Ernest and June Carlson and grandparents Ina (Ballinger) Hakanson & Harry Hakanson along with Elma (Boutz) Carlson & Herman Carlson – where love knows no bounds.

Though she has left this world physically, Carol's spirit lives on through the fond memories shared by family and friends alike. Her presence will always be felt in the hearts that she touched with her warmth and grace. May she rest in eternal peace.

Carol graduated from high school in Chicago, Illinois where she was born. She met her husband, Jimmy, in Chicago then soon after they married, they decided to move, along with daughter Jennifer, to Columbia, Kentucky where they lived for several years. After enjoying the rural life, and Jennifer graduating high school and joining the Air Force, Carol and Jimmy decided to move to Bowling Green, Kentucky where they resided for several more years. After that, the lake began calling their names, so they bought a houseboat and lived on Lake Cumberland for a few years enjoying the laid back freshwater life. Eventually they moved back to Bowling Green and officially put roots down.

 Carol was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, cousin, and friend. She took immense pride in the history of her family tree and dove into genealogy with such a great passion that she has helped people all over the world in their quest for finding information about their own family histories. The website she created had a wealth of information of several generations that many people have thanked her for. She was also extremely proud to be a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and received an official certificate naming her so. In fact, the last letter she wrote was to the women and girls she left behind regarding the strength of the women from our past and encouraging them to use that strength as they go forth in their own lives.

 Along with her passion for genealogy, she also had a passion for food. Amongst her family, she was known as the “foodie.” Whenever she watched television, most of the time cooking shows were her choice. She was always trying new recipes as well as often cooking the traditional family recipes that everyone loved. To keep the family recipes that include traditional Italian and Swedish culinary favorites, she also created a website that contained the family cookbook ensuring that all the beloved recipes would be available for everyone to keep making and passing the traditions down to their children.

 She had a propensity for perfection and ensured that anything she did for her family was done with pride. For family dinners, she made up the table with a fancy tablecloth, her best dishes and made the best food. When giving gifts, they were wrapped perfectly with elaborate bows. She always had the prettiest presents during birthdays and holidays. She had an artistic flair and could sketch wonderful pictures. On the quieter, more relaxing side, she took up an interest in crocheting. She made blankets for her daughter and her grandchildren, great grandchildren as well as hats, scarfs, and kitchen towels. Her opinions were also garnered for her family members’ art projects.

 Carol was somebody that her family could count on. She was always willing and available to help in the big and little moments. She was a willing ear and gave her input whether it was wanted or not-liked or not. Whether you liked it or not, it was usually sound advice and often heeded. She always had ideas to help with life’s little quirks and took weight off other’s shoulders. She will be dearly missed by all, and it will be hard to pick up the phone and remember she is no longer available to call. However, we know she is in a better place and can still talk to her, even if we don’t immediately get her advice at least she can still listen. 

In her youth she was a great water skier and a strong swimmer, skills she gained while her parents owned a boat and played on the lake every weekend for around four years. She was extremely smart and well-versed in English grammar, probably due to the fact that she was an avid reader. When she was around six, Carol had a cat named Smoky that was originally her sister Jan’s cat. However Smoky and Jan never really got along. After Jan threw some water on Smoky one night after he would not get off her bed, he bit Jan on her left hand while she scooted him off the bed. After that, Carol took over, and Smoky was in bliss. Carol would dress Smoky up in baby doll clothes, put him in the baby carriage, then take him for a walk up and down the street. Smoky never tried to jump out and loved going for the walks. A neighborhood friend tried to do the same with her little dog, but the dog would not have anything to do with the buggy. That made Carol glow and she decided she had the best pet in the neighborhood. Carol could hold Smoky precariously and upside down, but it did not matter to Smoky. He just loved being with her.