Peach Days grand marshals: Grant and Sheila Nelson

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A life-long resident of Ferron, Grant Beach Nelson was born June 10, 1943 to Clinton and Alta Nelson. Grant’s childhood was filled with wonderful years, they were not always easy but they were good. At an early age he learned how to be a very hard worker, often left in charge to be the man of the house. Grant looked after his mother and two sisters while his father was away working. He had many responsibilities as a young boy. Each day before and after school, there were animals to feed and cows to milk. Grant always made sure there was plenty of wood and coal for his mother to use. He also helped out on the farm hauling hay. It was there that he learned to drive a tractor at quite a young age. Grant was always willing to help the neighbors or any one in need.
When the chores were done, it was fun getting together with the neighbor kids. They built go-carts, bicycles or anything with wheels. They’d take them up on the church house hill and ride down, seeing who made it to the bottom first. If things fell apart, they would fix them and ride back down the hill again.
As a young man, Grant attended school at South Emery High and graduated in 1961. After graduation he married, bought his first home where he still resides today and began raising a family. Grant was employed with Ferron City, Emery County School District and Emery Road Department. He retired in 2008 as a heavy equipment operator. He’s always been a hard worker and still is at the age of 70.
Grant loved to be involved with the youth of the community. He served as scoutmaster for several years and was involved in helping whoever he could with a lamb for a 4-H project. Grant spent many hours helping his children get their lambs ready for the Southeastern Utah Junior Livestock Show. It made him proud to see his children put their hard earned money away into their very own savings accounts.
One of Grant’s greatest blessings is his family. He’s very proud of his six children, three sons and three daughters. Many good times and memories were and are still spent on Ferron Mountain. Whether it was camping, fishing, hunting or gathering firewood. It was always time well spent and being together as a family. It was a good day if Grant could get away and ride his horse in the mountains, especially in the fall. He loved to stop for a moment, take his elk whistle out of the saddle bag and see if he could get something to answer him. Many good elk and deer hunting trips were spent with his three boys on the mountains above Ferron. Grant loved to get on his horse and help his boys or anyone else pack out their deer or elk. These were the fun times Grant will always remember and treasure forever.
Sheila was born Dec. 7, 1941, to DeMar and Dortha Workmen. When she was a young girl her family moved around a lot, going where her dad could find work to support their family. Sheila did not like moving because it meant leaving her friends but she always made new ones wherever she went.
It was fun growing up with four brothers and two sisters, they did things together and made their own fun. Sheila enjoyed being a tomboy, it was such fun climbing trees and riding horses. She loved to ride horses in the summertime and would go every day from sun up until sun down if her mother would let her.
Sheila graduated from Murray High School in 1960. Shortly after that settled down and began raising a family. She is the proud mother of seven children, four boys and three girls. Her son needed a kidney and Sheila didn’t even think twice about giving him one of hers, especially if it could save his life.
Sheila moved to Emery County more than 20 years ago, she says it has been a wonderful place to live. Helping the elderly was very dear to her. She would clean their houses, fix them meals and help with their shopping and most of all she enjoyed visiting with them and loved being their friend.
Sheila is a very talented seamstress. She would often make clothes for her children but her passion was in making beautiful quilts. When a quilt was done, she found much pleasure in giving them to her family as a gift.
Sheila moved to Ferron in October of 2002 when she and Grant were married. Together they enjoy 36 grandchildren. Grant and Sheila live a simple but good life and wouldn’t have it any other way. They both love helping people and are grateful to have such wonderful friends. Grant and Sheila are proud to call Ferron their home.