Nellouise Wilson

Nellouise "Nelly" Wilson, a beloved mother and grandmother, passed away on March 20, 2025, at the age of 74. Born in Payson, Utah, she was the seventh of ten children and spent most of her life in Wyoming’s Bridger Valley, where she raised her four daughters and three sons.

The daughter of Fred Jones Strong and Doris Hodgkinson Strong, Nelly grew up in a home in Springville, Utah, built and expanded by her father as their family grew. At 16, while many were buying cars, she chose instead to buy a horse—an 18-year-old paint named Ace—rescuing him from an unfortunate fate. She rode him for a decade and was likely reunited with him, along with her cherished dog, Skeeter, whose legendary feats were a favorite family tale. She often recounted how Skeeter once climbed a ladder with liver in his mouth to feed an orphan falcon that she and her siblings raised.

In her early 30s, Nelly moved from Utah County to Wyoming as a single mother of four young daughters. After marrying Bud McCarroll, they all lived together for five years on his cattle ranch, where she shared her love of horses with her children. She cherished dancing her babies around the living room to Elvis Presley records, playing on her big cabinet stereo.

Nelly was known for her iron will, once winning a mile race against an avid runner despite not being a runner herself—and being a chain-smoker at the time. Her generosity was unmatched; she gave freely to those in need and possessed a rare gift for true forgiveness. Once she forgave, she truly forgot.

Blunt yet wise, she never pretended to be anything she wasn’t. Her advice was often simple yet profound: “Have you prayed about it?” She never hesitated to share her testimony of God’s tender mercies and unwavering love. Though she endured much in her later years, she remained grateful for all she had.

As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7, she fought the good fight, finished her course, and kept the faith.

Nelly was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Eddie, sisters Nancy and Peggy, former husbands Wayne, Bud, and Ed, and her daughter, Echo. She is survived by her children: Trooly, Misty, Brandy, Phil, Adam, and Andy, stepchildren Tom and Tami, as well as her 28 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, who will forever remember her unconquerable spirit and unwavering faith.

A gathering to celebrate her life will be held on Monday, March 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM at the Urie Wyoming Stake Center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.