Jean Darby Nelson

Published 9:29 am Friday, March 1, 2024

Jean Darby Nelson

October 16, 1930 – February 10, 2024

Jean Darby Nelson died on February 10, 2024, of old age.

Jean was born in Silverton, Oregon. She and five brothers grew up on a farm near the one-room Victor Point Schoolhouse, where she learned to love books and was inspired to become a teacher. She was valedictorian at Aumsville High School and won an Oregon PTA scholarship that, with earnings from summer berry-picking, enabled her to attend the Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon State University).

At OCE, she played softball and other sports, studied physical education, and, by her own account, “raised hell.” She began teaching in Empire, Oregon, then moved to Eugene, where she met another young teacher, Bruce Nelson, in a first-aid class. They married in 1955 and moved to Medford, where Jean taught at McLoughlin Junior High while Bruce taught at Hedrick. Their children Judy and Scott were born in 1957 and 1959, and Jean resumed teaching in 1963.

In 1964, they moved to Corvallis, where Jean earned a master’s degree at OSU while Bruce pursued his doctorate. They then returned to Medford, and Jean worked in the Central Point schools. There she helped create and coordinate a nationally recognized kindergarten program for children with learning disabilities. Governor Robert Straub appointed Jean to his Task Force on Early Childhood Development.


Much of Jean’s energy was devoted to her children. She encouraged them to excel academically, love the outdoors, and learn music. Family road trips were extended sing-alongs, with Bruce as captive audience.


By the 1980s, Jean itched to get back to the classroom, and she spent several happy years teaching fifth grade at Patrick Elementary School in Gold Hill. In 1988, she joined Bruce in retirement, and the two moved to Bandon, Oregon, where they had built a small home with their own hands. There they created beautiful gardens, while traveling extensively and indulging their passion for salmon fishing. In 2008, they moved to Central Point to be closer to family and medical care.

Jean loved dogs, meeting new people, reconnecting with old friends and family, and visiting the Nelson cabin in Camp Sherman. She was a talented seamstress, relentless card-player and jigsaw-puzzler, and took special pride in her pie crust. She was active in the AAUW, the League of Women Voters, and many churches. She remained an avid reader until her death. She was especially proud of her family. One of her last acts was presiding over her youngest granddaughter’s wedding.

Jean was preceded in death by Bruce in 2009. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law Judy and Greg Schultz; son and daughter-in-law Scott Nelson and Margaret McGoldrick; granddaughters Elizabeth Schultz Venable [Jeremy], Nicole Schultz [Jon Evans], and Emily Schultz [Ian McCullough]; great-granddaughter Kenya-Amaya Evans; younger brothers Merlin Darby and Jerry Darby [Suzan]; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will hold a memorial event later this year, and request that donations in Jean’s memory be made to ACCESS in Medford, Oregon.