Obituary of Audrey C. Nelson

Audrey C. Nelson LAKE ST. CATHERINE, WELLS, VT – Audrey Calkins Nelson passed peacefully into the hands of the Lord on Monday, October 30, 2017, at Rutland Regional Medical Center, after a nine year battle with heart disease and short health decline. She was born February 7, 1928 to Rawson Henry Calkins and Iva Lillian Mason Calkins and lived her early years at her beloved family farm at Lake Willoughby, VT. Audrey graduated from Barton Academy and Sargent College of Boston University. She began a successful summer riding school for girls, Caldale Capers, at the farm in Lake Willloughby, while a student at Sargent College. After graduation, she taught physical education at the Country Day School for Dana Hall School, Wellesley, MA. She married Thomas S. Nelson in August, 1954, and with him co-founded Camp Catherine Capers at Lake St. Catherine, Wells, VT. There, she developed and directed a world-renowned horsemanship camping program which emphasized for its young girls personal growth, independence, leadership and self-respect. She was a talented business woman who could be found daily working alongside others from the kitchen to the trail rides, the outdoor cookouts and the sing-along campfires. Audrey served for many years on the boards of the Vermont, New England and American Camping Associations and was a founding director of the Camp Horsemanship Association. She retired from the camping business at age 81 and continued to enjoy her summers at camp and then fulfilled a lifetime dream of living fulltime at her home on the Lake. Audrey was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Thomas Sheldon Nelson, II. She is survived by her four children, Frank M. Nelson, Holly Nelson Lutz (John) Clare J. Nelson and George P. Nelson (Laura); six grandchildren, Meredith W. Lutz (Aaron Olsen), Brittany C. Lutz (Colin Harris), Aislinne Lutz Fritzer (Andrew), Elleanor H. Lutz, Megan Nelson and Liam Nelson; two nieces, Marleigh P. McNealus (Jerry) and Elizabeth Gillooly; and three nephews, David Pelton (Kiki), William Pelton (Dana) and James Calkins (Nancy). She was predeceased by her parents and by her brother, Keith W. Calkins. Audrey was a consummate mentor of young people, fiercely independent and phenomenal story teller in the best Vermont tradition. She believed in her two communities, West Pawlet and Wells, VT. She was particularly dedicated to buying from and employing local people in her business; she walked a path in life always to encourage local women and to foster economic independence for families close to home. She served on the PTA of the Pawlet, VT, schools for many years, continuing later in life as a volunteer reader for countless children at the Mettowee Valley Elementary School. She was devoted to her church, the Wells United Methodist Church, and loved the community of friends there, serving for many years on its board of directors. Friends and family may call from 1 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, November 4, at Robert M. King Funeral Home, 23 Church St., Granville, NY. A prayer service and a time of sharing will be held at the funeral home commencing at 3:30 p.m. A private committal will follow immediately thereafter. A memorial life celebration will be held at a future date to be determined by the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Wells United Methodist Church, Camp Scholarship fund, c/o Ken Littlewood, Financial Secretary, 119 Rte. 30, Wells, VT 05774.