Obituary of Carolyn Mary Nelson-Maynard

Carolyn Nelson-Maynard 74, of Duluth, passed away peacefully at the Solvay Hospice House on Friday, Aug. 21, 2015 in Duluth. She was born to the late Walter "Pete" Nelson and Mary "Peggy" Nelson on Sept. 29, 1940. Carolyn attended Congdon Park Elementary School and Duluth East High School, before graduating with a degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She lived in the suburbs of Golden Valley and Wayzata of Minneapolis, as well as, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and Laguna Niguel, Calif. She later returned to Duluth to care for her aging parents, Walter and Mary. Carolyn loved spending time at her cabin home on Pequaywan Lake, a cabin that her father had built for the family. Carolyn was a natural care-giver. Her passion was to help those who could not help themselves. She loved creating memories for her friends and family. Entertaining and gardening were her hobbies and she was gifted at both. Carolyn volunteered for many non-profit organizations such as Special Olympics and Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly. She held notable jobs in the care-giving field including a Psychiatric Technician for South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach, Calif., and her latest place of employment was with Residential Services, Inc. (RSI) as an Independent Living Skills Worker in Duluth. Carolyn's two favorite places were the beaches of Southern California and her cabin porch on Pequaywan Lake in Duluth. Carolyn is survived by her four children, Anne Maynard-Terry of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., John Maynard of Red Wing and his wife Heidi, Lynn Peterson of Duluth and her husband Craig, and Scott Maynard of Ladera Ranch, Calif., and his wife Robyn; eight grandchildren, Tyler Maynard and his wife Michelle, Rachel Terry, Hannah Terry, Elizabeth Terry, Max Peterson, Cole Peterson, Ainsley Maynard and Addison Maynard; two great-grandchildren, Jake and Madison Maynard. Carolyn also had three step-grandchildren, Carrie Armstrong and her husband Lucas, Turner Eckstrom, Trey Eckstrom and two step-grandchildren, Jasmyn Armstrong and Myles Armstrong The family wishes to thank all of the loving thoughts, prayers, special visits and those who cared for her during her illness MEMORIAL CELEBRATION: 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, 2015 in First United Methodist Church, 230 E. Skyline Pkwy., Duluth. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent in her name to Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org and Solvay Hospice House at www.millerdwanfoundation.org. Cremation Society of Minnesota 624-5200