Ronald Nelson

Ronald Rae Nelson, 89, longtime Baker City resident, passed June 4, 2025, at his home in Baker, with his wife and daughters by his side. A Celebration of Life & Remembrance will be from 1 pm to 5 pm Saturday September 27 th at the Elks Lodge in Baker City.

Ron was born October 16, 1935, in Baker City Oregon to Glenn Clifford Nelson (“Banty”) and Pearl Augustus Castles. He was a 1953 Baker High School graduate. Ron then enlisted in the United States Air Force and served from 1953-1957 as an Airman First Class of the 95 th Bomb Wing Field Maintenance Squadron. He was an electrician for the B-36 bombers.

Ron returned to Baker after his honorable discharge from the service where he met and married Juanita J. Carnell in 1959. They had 3 children: Renee, Monty and Shelly. Ron graduated from Eastern Oregon University in 1963 with a teaching degree and taught at the Jr. High & High School level from 1963-1977, for a short time in Richland Oregon and then in Baker City. It was common to hear him addressed as Mr. Nelson by many former students even in his later years.

Ron retired from teaching and spent nearly 10 years working for Arco up in Prudhoe Bay Alaska starting in 1977 before he retired for good. Ron Married Edith A. Sprague Myers in 1987. They
had a long & happy life together from 1987-2025 (38 years). With this union, he gained another daughter, Michelle Renee (“Shelly”) Sprague.

Ron was a sports enthusiast his entire life, participating in high school baseball and basketball. He was a gifted athlete and played first base on a mans fast pitch softball team with family, good
friends and locals of Baker City. Ron coached little league and high school baseball. He enjoyed the outdoors with hunting and ice fishing in his later years.

Ron was a loyal member and Exalted Ruler of the Elks, a tradition of the Nelson family for years. He was a very social person, who always enjoyed his friends and being with his family,
always making them laugh with his sense of humor. Ron looked out for some of his family members and some of his older friends later in life as circumstances dictated.

Survivors include his wife- “Edie”; daughters- Renee Kress, Shelly Horn (SIL- Rocky), Shelly Wineinger (SIL- George); granddaughters- Megan and Kaylan Nelson; grandsons- Wesley and
Luke Wineinger; brother- Donald Nelson; sister-in-law- Donna Nelson and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents- Glenn & Pearl Nelson; son- Monty Nelson; brother-
Glenn Gordon Nelson.

Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com

“Always loved, never forgotten, forever missed”