Mrs. Letta Baker Nelson (1865-1944)

NELSON, BAKER, MCGAVIC, VISON, DUPY, BOLLMAN, YOUNG, PAINTER

Posted By: John Davis (email)
Date: 2/26/2020 at 20:09:04

Obit posted in Ottumwa Courier May 8, 1944
Mrs. Nelson, Pioneer Milliner, Dies At 79
Mrs. Letta Baker Nelson, 79, formerly prominent as owner and manager of retail ready-to-wear and millinery stores in Ottumwa, died at 8:45 a.m. today at the home 632 East Second street, She had been a resident of this city her entire life with the exception of a few years spent in Chicago. Mrs. Nelson was born January 31, 1865, in Ottumwa, the daughter of Nicholas Baker and Louise Mayer Baker. She was a graduate of the Adams high school and of St. Joseph’s convert of art and music. Mrs. Nelson learned the millinery business under direction of the late Mrs. S.L. McGavic and was manager of the Julius Lyon Millinery Co. of Ottumwa prior to entering the florist and millinery business for herself. Together with her husband, Harvey Nelson, she was owner of the Louise frock shop, a ready to wear store for women, but retired from that business in 1938, She was married to Mr. Nelson in Newton, June 21, 1927. He preceded her in death April 15, 1937. Surviving are three stepdaughters, Mrs. Harold Vinson and Mrs. Lafe Dupy, both of Ottumwa and Mrs. Ben Bollman of Beverly Hills, California. Two sisters, Mrs. May Young of Ottumwa and Mrs. Blanche Painter of Chariton, Wyoming; two nephews, Mayer Young of Ottumwa and Mrs. Woodbury Young of Panama, also survive. The body was taken to the Carroll Reece funeral home to await arrangements for funeral services.
Funeral services for Mrs. Letta Baker Nelson, former prominent Ottumwa milliner and owner of women’s ready to wear stores who died at her home, 632, East Second street at 8:45 a.m. Monday will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Carroll Recce funeral home. The Rev. L.H. Matheus, pastor of the Trinity Episcopal church, will be in charge and burial will be in Ottumwa cemetery. Mrs. Nelson was a lifelong member of the Episcopal church and in addition to other affiliations, was a charter member of I.C. a sorority now known as Pi Beta Phi.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. M. Bannister, Clint Adler, Frank Hofmann, W.L. Dupy, John Wagner and Hervey Pollard. Active pallbearers will be Roy Kemble, Don Neasham, Reed Kemble, Don Neasham, Reed Blankenship, De Monte Baker, Charles Crable and Paul Sloan.