Yvonne Ellen Nelson Lambros, 88, of St. George, Utah, passed away Saturday, June 8, 2024. Yvonne was loved for her tender heart and unwavering dedication to serving others. Her glowing personality, quick wit and infectious sense of humor made her a beloved presence among her many friends. Known for her gentle teasing, Yvonne had a unique way of endearing herself to everyone she met, leaving a lasting impression of warmth and joy.
Yvonne was born Oct. 16, 1935, in Richfield, Utah, to Edwin August “Ted” and Burdean Nelson. The Nelsons moved to Ogden and then Gillette, Wyoming, where Ted set up the local J.C. Penney Co. and later Nelson Gillette Clothing Co. She attended Campbell County High School where she excelled academically and was the student council secretary, drum majorette, and president of the Spanish Club. She graduated with the Campbell County High School class of 1953. Her high school yearbook quote was emblematic of her attitude and humor that friends appreciated throughout her life: “Laugh and the world will laugh with you; frown and you will wrinkle your face.”
After high school, she attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where she studied nursing. When she graduated, she returned to Gillette and worked at the local hospital. Back in Gillette, she met and fell in love with James “Jim” Lambros. She and Jim were married in Gillette in 1958.
Yvonne and Jim moved to Denver, Colorado, and then to California, where they settled in Fresno and lived for over 20 years, making cherished friendships in the community. Yvonne was active in the local PEO sisterhood and helped Jim manage his business ventures.
After Yvonne’s father passed away in 2004, she and Jim moved into his home in St. George, Utah. She and Jim attended the local Grace Episcopal Church, where they established dear friendships and found opportunities to serve. After Jim’s death in 2012, Yvonne continued to
serve in the church and community and cherished time with her friends and family.
Yvonne started to show symptoms of liver cancer in late 2023 but continued living a full life until her illness forced her to be bedridden in the past month. Though the cancer spread and weakened her body, she seemed not to be in pain and passed away peacefully in her sleep.
Yvonne is preceded in death by her husband Jim Lambros (2012); father Ted Nelson (2004); mother Burdean Nelson (1998). She is survived by her brother Ed (Naunie) Nelson of St. George, Utah, and brother-in-law Ted of Manhattan, Montana.
Calling hours for Yvonne will be held at the Grace Episcopal Church at 1072 E 900 S, St. George, Utah on Saturday, July 13, at 10 a.m. The Requiem Eucharist will be held immediately afterward at 11 a.m. in the same location.
Condolences may be shared on the McMillan Mortuary website. Click here to access the website.