Connie Yates

Connie Lynn Nelson Yates, 59, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away from Huntington’s Disease on Saturday, December 17, 2011, at Life Care Center of Idaho Falls. She truly endured to the end with grace, patience, and dignity. Her illness was long, slow and debilitating...but her passing was peaceful and exuberant as she went to her husband, whom she loved with all her heart and soul. She was born June 18, 1952, in Ames, Iowa, to Charles Langford Nelson and Cleo Bleedner Nelson. She graduated from Skyline High School of Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1970 and earned a Bachelors degree in Marketing at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. Connie was working in Lewiston, Idaho as a CNA taking care of people in their homes when she met and later married Vic Jerald Yates of Ririe, Idaho on September 22, 1988. No children were born to their union. In 1922 Vic and Connie decided to move back home to Idaho Falls to be close to their families. They bought a home on Lomax Street where they resided until Connie’s illness worsened and Vic could no longer care for her. Even though she had to move into a care facility, Vic missed and loved her so much that he would go sit with her for hours on a daily basis. To make her smile everyday he would say to her...”How’s my little Filly?”, a nick-name she dearly loved. On June 6, 2011, the light in her life went out when Vic passed away suddenly from a heart attack. She was never the same since that day. Connie enjoyed many things, such as visiting with family, camping, going on scenic drives with her husband Vic, sewing and painting art work. Connie completed a beautiful painting of an angel that the Nelson family continues to cherish. She introduced the family to reading “Tolkien”, which quickly became and remains a family favorite. She also loved to read and study the scriptures and was a faithful member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church. No sweeter Angel was ever sent to this earth than Connie. She was a member of the Lutheran Church. Connie enjoyed the outdoors, camping, hiking, painting, art work, and especially loved to read scriptures. She is survived by: Brother, Patrick Nelson of Grand Island, New York; step-mother, Cathy Nelson of Spokane, WA; step-sisters, Rene Thompson, Denice Nelson and Beth Nelson all of Spokane, WA; step-brother, Thomas Nelson of Cleveland, Ohio; sister-in-laws, Zee Yates Hill of Olympia, WA, Deanne Yates Meng of Ucon, ID, Dixie Yates Gardner of Ammon, ID and numerous loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vic, her parents, a brother, Steven Nelson, and a sister, Debbie Nelson. Graveside Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, December 23, 2011, at the Ririe-Shelton Cemetery with Pastor Jerry Reinke of St. John’s Lutheran Church officiating. Please don’t send flowers due to the weather, but any donations to the Huntington’s Foundation would be greatly appreciated.

Graveside Services -- Friday

1:00 - p.m. ,Friday, December 23, 2011 Ririe-Shelton Cemetery 12463 East 129 North Ririe, ID, Bonneville 83443