Nellie Greer

Nelllie Greer, age 98, of La Grande, died January 13, 2012 at a local care facility. A funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 20, 2012 at the First Christian Church in La Grande. Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Nellie to the Kodiak Baptist Mission in care of Daniels~Knopp, Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande.

Nellie Greer was born on January 8, 1914 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada to Jack
Davies and Janet Linton-Davies. Upon completion of high school in Hamilton she entered Toronto University in Pre Medicine discovering in a relatively short time that it was not her calling. She transferred to Toronto Bible College where she met a brash young Irishman named Arthur Greer, who she was to marry and spend the next sixty plus years with as a minister's wife. In that role Nellie was extremely active teaching Sunday School at every level, serving as choir director, pianist, organist, leader of women's groups, and keeping the home running so that Arthur could concentrate on serving the church. As a couple Nellie and Arthur served churches in Ontario Canada, Colorado, California, Nebraska, and as an interim pastor Arthur served in South Dakota, Kansas,
and Nebraska.

Nellie and Arthur moved to La Grande in 1991. Nellie's artistic nature expressed itself in music, knitting, and oil painting. She had a tremendous soprano singing voice with a rather amazing range and perfect pitch, which was a real asset in the ministry. Knitting was Nellie's relaxation activity as she knit clothing for not just family, but produced literally hundreds of sweaters for children in mission orphanages, primarily in Alaska. She continued to knit for grandchildren as long as she could see the stitches. Oil painting, primarily landscape and still life, was not just a hobby, but also an avocation as she taught private classes for many years in Colorado, California, Nebraska, and South Dakota. She painted the scene behind the baptisteries in at least three churches in Colorado.
Her family was always the main focus and the great joy of her life. She cherished
her time with children and grandchildren, but in later years she took special delight in having her great grandchildren come to her room for stories, attention, to kiss a hurt, and for her special kind of love.

She is survived by her daughter, Peggy Christensen and her husband Lew Christensen of Brookings, South Dakota, and son Art Greer and his wife Sunny of
La Grande, her nieces, Merrilyn Cramblet of McCall, Idaho, and Patty Frey of Pasadena, California, seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. Nellie was preceded in death by her husband Rev. Arthur J. Greer, two children,Gordon David and Margaret Rose, and her parents Janet and John Albert Davies.

Throughout her life Nellie was a full partner in the ministry, loved and served her Lord, and deeply loved and served her family. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her and yet she will always be remembered with respect, love and a warm smile.

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