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Mary Nelsen

The educated Mary includes a student life at the following schools:

Texas Lutheran

Fresno Pacific

Fresno State

Mary is a lifelong learner. She grew up in a household that was always involved in learning and

reading. Mary’s dad led the family in many family projects that fed their curiosity and taught

them to be proactive in taking responsibility for their own learning. Mary exhibits all the

personality of a lifelong learner by being proactive, curious, resilient and flexible.

Although Mary had changed majors several times, she was influenced to be a teacher because

she frequently found herself in charge of the care and teaching of children in family gatherings,

church, etc. One of Mary’s masters is from Fresno Pacific in a Masters of Education in

Elementary Education with emphasis in math and science. Mary participated in Project AIMS

which allowed her during the summer to go to colleges around the USA and teach K-3 grade

teachers how to do hands on activities with math and science.

After retiring Mary got another Masters in Marriage and Family therapy. She had planned on

working with children but developed non-Hodgin’s brain tumor and did not practice. The

survival of this serious disease is another testament to Mary’s resilience and faith.

Mary’s parents were noteworthy in their personal strength and integrity which they passed on

to Mary. Mary’s mother, Evelyn, was premature and only 2 ½ lbs when born. She was so small

that her crib was a dresser drawer but size didn’t tell the story of impact. The family story is

that Evelyn, ever so small a woman, when witnessing a police officer trying to subdue a

criminal, hopped out of the family car, waged her finger in the face of the criminal and ordered

him “now you stop that!” And he did! And by doing so forever made Evelyn’s place in history in

her ability to successfully order people that are misbehaving to stop. Evelyn also was ordered

by Mary’s dad, an Oklahoma University grad in architecture and six feet tall, to never do that

again.

Mary’s students went from being in the church to being in the schools. It seems that Mary, who

has inherited her height from her father and her temperament from both her dad and mother

(a force to be reconned with) was often chosen to teach the children known for being a

discipline problem either caused by neglect or abandonment or children with learning

disabilities. During this first year of her teaching career in Clovis, Mary says she “found herself

turning into her mother” because the whole class of 36 students were either discipline

problems or had learning disabilities. Mary had to deliver exact instructions in a tone that was

to be obeyed in order to create a learning atmosphere in her classroom. Mary did not want to

be so forceful and expresses she would never taught again if she had “to be like” that after that

first very difficult year teaching students with special needs.

When Mary married, she married a teacher in Merced in 1963 and had planned to move and to

not teach. While Mary’s work as a teacher was difficult, her methods were successful and that

meant she again was convinced to bring her talents and success as a teacher to the classroom.

Mary taught school for 27 years before retiring from the Bass Lake school system.

Mary is a woman of faith and a treasure to her friends and family delivering the benefits of

intercessory prayer. This type of prayer begins with a foundation of faith. Mary, when she was

six years old had an infection that put her into a coma. Antibiotics at this time were just being

discovered and were primarily used for military men who had been injured on the battlefield

and who were dying not of their wounds but of the secondary infection. A doctor where Mary’s

dad worked gave family in military the antibiotics which were then administered to Mary. The

antibiotics were instrumental in her recovery and waking from the coma cementing her faith in

the power of prayer and in her faith.

We all have memories that we treasure and some that can make us wonder “what in the

world!” Mary’s memory is that the check list for her teacher’s evaluation for her first year of

teaching contained the judgement of “how straight were the seams in her stockings.” As

women know, living in a time when women were first admitted into the public work force,

brought about funny ways of judging them. As Mary states in her best imitation of her mother,

Evelyn, how straight her stocking seams were had absolutely nothing at all to do with how she

taught students in the classroom.

Teachers are some of the most influential people in our lives. Mary continues to be an influence

in the life of her family, and especially her 15-year old twin grandsons. She also is an influence

in our lives by sharing her memories, her prayers, and her faith with all of us.

Thank you Mary for all you have done and continue to do.

Welcome to Sierra Senior Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of senior citizens in the Eastern Madera County area. Our mission is to organize and promote education, nutrition, health, and overall well-being for our cherished community of seniors.

We go beyond just fostering well-being; we strive to create bonds of friendship, goodwill, and mutual understanding among our members, extending these values to all seniors in the region. At the heart of our mission is the commitment to open communication and the sharing of experiences.

As active community contributors, we take a keen interest in the civic, cultural, and social welfare of our area. Sierra Senior Center serves as a platform for open discussions on matters of public interest, creating an inclusive space for voices to be heard.

Join us in our journey to build a thriving community where every senior citizen can flourish, connect, and enjoy the richness of life. Welcome to Sierra Senior Center – where every moment matters!

 Navigating to Sierra Senior Center is a breeze! Once you spot the Oakhurst Community Center, head left at their entrance onto Cinder Lane. Follow the road along the parking lot and a dirt parking area. As you continue, a Baseball Field will appear on your right, and voila – our entrance is right in front of you. No need for detours; just follow these simple directions, and you'll be with us in no time! And, to make things even easier, we've included a map for you. See you soon!