Chrisie Lee Nelson

Chrisie Lee (Parkhurst) Nelson died suddenly on Aug. 1, 2008, at Providence Medical Center, Everett. Chrisie was born April 21, 1935, in San Diego, Calif., to L. Ralph and Aileen J. (Mowry) Poole. Chrisie’s father was a career naval officer and in 1942, he became the 22nd officer to arrive aboard the newly commissioned NAS Whidbey Island.

Chrisie attended school in Oak Harbor and graduated with the Class of 1954. Soon after graduation, she moved to Seattle to attend beauty school. She returned to Oak Harbor and worked for McCullough’s Five and Dime store on Pioneer Way and then as a teller at the drive-up branch of Everett Trust and Savings Bank on Midway, and finally as a bookkeeper and sales person for Copeland Lumber Company with John and Dee Wichers.

Chrisie married John Parkhurst on April 1, 1966. John was a partner with Parkhurst and Lange General Contractors, now P&L Construction. She became mom to her two daughters and John’s eight children. She became a stay-at-home mom and loved the challenge of feeding a “small army.” John died in 1979 and Chrisie was married to Willis Crossett and finally to Richard W. Nelson. She and Richard inherited her father’s property in Quartzite, Ariz. (the original Oak Harbor getaway), and they soon became snowbirds.

Chrisie enjoyed golf, sewing, knitting, creating baby Afghans for her children and grandchildren and raising her family.

Chrisie is survived by two daughters: Aileen Kesler and husband Kenneth of Oak Harbor and Jessie Sweeney and husband Edward of Welch, Minn.; and her step-mother Reka (Zylstra) Poole, also of Oak Harbor. She is also survived by stepchildren: Jack Parkhurst of Port Orchard; James Parkhurst of Silvana; Robert Parkhurst of Seattle; Pamela Parkhurst of Bellevue and Paul Parkhurst of Monroe. Five grandchildren: Katrina Kesler, John Barone, Nicole Chambers, Kurt Kesler and Tiffany Barone-Tabafunda and four great grandchildren, Shelby Chambers, Xavier Barone-Tabafunda, and Kenneth Augiano.

Funeral services for Chrisie Nelson will be held at Burley Funeral Chapel on Thursday, August 7, at 1 p.m. with Pastor Thomas Meyers officiating. Graveside services will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.