Christine "Chris" M. Nelson

Christine "Chris" M. Nelson, 65, passed away peacefully in her home in Redmond, OR on Wednesday October 27, 2021, after a 30-year battle with breast cancer. Chris was born on April 13, 1956, in Milwaukie, OR to Leonard and Shirley Stang. Chris attended Rex Putnam High in Milwaukie. During her high school years the family moved to Eugene where Chris graduated from North Eugene High School. Chris was a natural athlete. While growing up she participated in track and rally/dance squads. While attending North Eugene High she participated in a mentor program with the Lane County Sheriff's Office. Upon graduation she joined the Sheriff's Office as a police dispatcher and later became a civil deputy in the Sheriff's Civil Division. In 1979 she married her husband, Ron Nelson, and moved to Cottage Grove. After the birth of the first of three children, Chris left the Sheriff's Office and became the volunteer mom with a van participating in virtually every event her active children were involved in. In 1993 the family moved to Redmond. Shortly thereafter Chris was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the diagnosis and many years of treatments that followed, Chris remained extremely active. She enjoyed a wide variety of outdoor activities including water skiing, fishing, hunting, camping, and horseback riding. Chris became a certified scuba diver and enjoyed dive trips throughout the world. She later followed her true passion of raising training and competing on barrel racing horses. For the next 15 years Chris competed throughout the state in barrel races, winning many awards and making wonderful friends. Chris's greatest joys were her family, tending her flowers on the family farm, her horse, friends, and anything competitive. Chris is survived by Ron, her husband of 42 years, daughters Jessica Hadfield (Nathan), Meghan Holmes (Richie), both of Redmond, son Dan Nelson (Mimi) of Canby, brother Greg Stang (Ginger) of Salem, sister-in-law Nancy Birkemeier (Rich) of Canby and 7 grandchildren. A celebration of life will be planned in the months that follow. In lieu of flowers the family is asking to either donate blood or to make a donation to your favorite cancer charity.

Tributes

Christine "Chris" M. Nelson

April 13, 1956 - October 27, 2021