Gayle Ann Nelson

Gayle Ann (Wordsworth) Nelson passed away in her home in Ontario, Oregon on November 26th at 10:36am. After an extended illness she slipped the boundaries of earth surrounded by her husband of 54 years, Norm Nelson, her daughter, Chrysti, son-in-law James, three granddaughters and her sister, Beth.

Gayle was born in Seattle, Washington on October 28th, 1949, to parents, Earl and Chrystell (Seals) Wordsworth. She was the middle child and the only girl. The Wordsworth family lived for a few years in Spokane, but Gayle moved to Seattle with her family in July 1960. Gayle attended (then) Queen Anne Junior High and graduated from Queen Anne High School in June 1968. In the fall she attended Northwest Nazarene (College) University, pursuing a degree in elementary education. In her junior year she left college to marry Norm Nelson of Ontario, Oregon on September 24, 1971.

Gayle and Norm had three children, Bob, Chrysti and Dan. When Dan was in junior high, Gayle returned to college at Eastern Oregon University and received her education degree in May 1991. Over the years Gayle taught elementary grades at Alameda, May Roberts in Ontario and Nyssa Elementary, in Nyssa, Oregon.

Norm and Gayle lived their entire married life in Ontario except for three years when they served with MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) in Indonesia, where Gayle taught the children of the missionary pilots’ families.

Gayle and her husband have attended the Ontario Church of the Nazarene for over fifty years. In that time, she served as Sunday School teacher, choir member, wedding coordinator, Caravan director and helped with VBS, camps and many other church functions. Gayle loved babies and was always looking for the newest, little bundle to hold in her arms. Making baby blankets and clothes were one of her many talents. She made wedding dresses, shirts and jackets for her children and many, many dresses for her daughter and granddaughters. She was an expert seamstress and made professional quality quilts. Gayle was an excellent cook and had a creative mind. She was also known to have a well-developed sense of humor. Pranks are still told by college friends and those who attended church retreats who were the victims of her shenanigans. She loved attending church functions with family and friends, and she had a zest for life. But most of all she had a twinkle in her eye for the love of her life - her husband, Norm, and for her Lord and Savior. She was a devout, praying woman of God and will be missed by those who knew and loved her.

She is preceeded in death by her father, Earl Wordsworth, brother, Ralph Wordsworth, brother, Ted Wordsworth and her mother Chrystell (Wordsworth, Fisher) Cherrington. She is survived by her husband, Norm Nelson, of Ontario, Oregon, son, Bob Nelson of Wasilla, Alaska, daughter, Chrysti Duckworth and son-in-law, James Duckworth, of Watford City, North Dakota and son, Dan Nelson of Fairbanks, Alaska. When Gayle was ten years old, two orphaned cousins came to live with her family. She is survived by sisters, Linda Thomas, of Willmar, Minnesota and Beth McCarty, of Ontario, Oregon. She is also survived by eight grandchildren.

The Celebration of Life for Gayle Nelson will be February 6th, 2026, at 1pm, at the Ontario Church of the Nazarene, 1311 Alameda Drive, Ontario, OR. Donations may be made in her honor at MAF, 112 N. Pilatus Lane, Nampa, ID, 83687, MAF.org, (208)498-0800.