Nelson Edward Yoder

Nelson Ed w ard Y oder, 77 , died June 10, 20 1 8, at his home in Comins , Michigan. He was born

December 7, 1940, in Comins, to the late John K . Y oder and Dorothy ( L ayman) Yode r .

He grew up in the Comins and Fairview area attending schools i n both communities. As a youngster it

was soon apparent he had a gift for music and art and a love of nature . In 1959 , he enrolled at Bob

Jones University , Greenville, S.C. , t o stud y the arts. Upon earning h i s Master's degree he was invited

to teach there and later taught at Greenville College in Greenville , Illinois.

In 1972 he returned to Comins , purchased the old Carrie James Hotel and opened C r aft Fair , a venue

for authentic, local arts and crafts. He was one of the founders of the AuSable Academ y for the A rts ,

worked as a reporter for the Oscoda County News and created his own magazine, The Wilderness

Chronicle . 1 977, he was active in the protest of the burial of PBB tainted cattle on Mt . Tom. He was

also worked at the Oscoda Count y Council on Aging and was curator for the Michigan Magazine

Museum.

He belonged to the Mio Irisarians and the Kirtland's Warblers Audubon Society.

H e was an artist, musician, teacher, collector, writer and poet . His cookbook, Simply Good Cooking,

preserved r ecipes from the past fo r future generation to appreciate. He was a horticulturist and an

enthus i astic promoter of the Mio Irisarians . He observed and learned f r om nature, installing an

amazing bird sanctuary outside his window f or his enjoyment and was delighted to share it with any

visitors. He wintered in Premont, Texas, for many years where he enjoyed another community of family and

friends. He was pianist for the church during those months and often took a trip into Mexico. He

loved to watch Spring unfold along the highway on his way home to Michigan with gifts and souvenirs

to share. A detailed storyteller with many i nterests and many friends, he wil l be missed.

His family wishes to thank the Compassus T eam led b y Dee Clover , Ted and Mary Handrich, Jim and

Dawn Larrison, Norma Gusler and Stuart Emig fo r their ca r e and for their compassion so Nelson could live at home .

Nelson is survived by: His brother , Roger (My r a) Y oder of Fairview, MI , and sisters, Ramona (Mike) Blouin of Clare , MI and Deborah (Skeet) Dew of Fairview , MI . Nephews and Nieces: Derek (Alice) Y ode r of North Collins, NY . Andrea (Jon) Lee of Petoskey, MI . Paige Chane y of Vanderbilt , MI . Lee (Colin) Olsen of Ann A rbor , MI . Louis (Nichole Becker) Blouin of Detroit, MI . Claire ( A ndrew Crowe) o f Clare, MI . Chelsea (Chris Alder i nk) Evans of Grand Rapids and Ashton (Jen) Evans of F ai rv iew, M I .

Great nieces and nephews: Katherine Yoder, Rebekah Yoder, Joel Yoder, Owen Yoder , Olivia (Erik)

Graef , Chloe Lee , Silas Lee , Cecilia Olsen , Gundhart Olsen , A udrey Crowe , and Gryffin Evans.

Nelson w as predeceased b y his parents, his brother , James K . Y oder , and nephews Case y and Corey

Yoder and Thad Y oder.

H is memorial se rv ice was at the L ashley F uneral Home in Mio , MI, on June 14 , 2018 , with Harr y

Gerber and Roger Y oder officiating. Internment will be at the Fairview Cemete r y, Fai r view , MI .

Memorials may be made to the Kirtland's Warbler Audubon Society, Comins Chapter of the Michigan

Audubon Society or Compassus Hospice of Atlanta.