Nellie Dalton Bushman, 85, of Joseph City passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2015, in Snowflake. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel on Westover Avenue in Joseph City. A viewing will precede the services from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
She was born on Aug. 2, 1929, to Rowena Flake and John Luther Dalton Jr. in Aripine. She enjoyed time as a young girl on her grandfather’s ranch in Aripine. She graduated from Thatcher High School and then attended Gila College, now known as Eastern Arizona College, on scholarship for a year.
She married Virgil A. Bushman on May 27, 1948, in the Mesa Arizona LDS Temple. She came to Joseph City with Virgil, where they operated the family dairy farm and raised seven children, Virgil (Karilyn), Ivan (Carroll), Virnell Wright (Peter-deceased), Evelyn Walker (Russell), Allen (Terri), Ralph (Janet) and Kent (Robin).
She spent her life serving others. She held numerous callings in the Primary and Relief Society organizations of the church. She also served in the Scouting organization for over 45 years alongside her husband, who was serving as Scoutmaster when they married and for the next 45 or so years. Not only did she serve in official callings in Scouting, such as Blazer leader, but she did an excellent job of keeping the Scouting records in order. Even though Virgil was the Scoutmaster, Nellie was the driving force behind Virgil and her five sons earning the Eagle Award.
Nellie and Virgil served two missions for the LDS church. It was during the second mission when Virgil received the final transfer and passed on. That did not stop her, as she served another mission in South Carolina. She then spent 11 years doing what she truly loved, serving in the Snowflake Temple.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, a son-in-law, one brother, two sisters, one grandson and one great-granddaughter.
Survivors include two brothers, four sisters, her seven children, 38 grandchildren and 94 great-grandchildren.
Owens Livingston Mortuary of Holbrook was in charge of the arrangements.
