Nielsen Hayden genealogy

Barbara Jean Crandall

Barbara Jean Crandall

Female 1926 - 2021  (94 years)

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    All

  • Name Barbara Jean Crandall 
    Birth 3 Jun 1926  Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3
    Gender Female 
    Death 16 Feb 2021  Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 4
    Burial 2 Mar 2021  Mesa City Cemetery, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 6
    Siblings 5 siblings 
    Person ID I1071  Ancestry of PNH, TNH, and others | Ancestor of TNH
    Last Modified 13 Mar 2022 

    Father Paul Leslie Crandall,   b. 28 Nov 1901, Safford, Graham, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Aug 1987, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years) 
    Mother Barbara Allen,   b. 5 Oct 1903, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Feb 2003, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 99 years) 
    Marriage 6 Jun 1924  Gilbert, Maricopa, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location  [7, 8
    Family ID F2221  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Victor Louis Nielsen, Jr.,   b. 25 Apr 1927, Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 May 1985, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 58 years) 
    Marriage 31 Oct 1949  Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Children 
     1. Ericka Joyce Nielsen,   b. 2 Jan 1955, Chamberlain, Brule, South Dakota Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 69 years)
     2. Teresa Barbara Nielsen,   b. 21 Mar 1956, Chamberlain, Brule, South Dakota Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 67 years)
    +3. Victor Louis Nielsen, III,   b. 7 Apr 1957, Chamberlain, Brule, South Dakota Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 66 years)
    +4. Matthew Crandall Nielsen,   b. 21 Jun 1958, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years)
    +5. Paul Mitchell Nielsen,   b. 16 Apr 1960, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 63 years)
    Family ID F6197  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 16 Apr 2016 

    Family 2 Emery Bevington "Soap" Dowell,   b. 2 Jan 1924, Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Nov 2017, Emeryville, Alameda, California Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 93 years) 
    Marriage 9 Jun 2007  Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F7767  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 6 Jun 2015 

  • Photos
    Barbara Jean Crandall
    Barbara Jean Crandall

  • Notes 
    • From her obituary at Meldrum Mortuary:

      Barbara J. Crandall Nielsen Dowell, age 94, of Mesa, Arizona, died on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at her home, surrounded by family and friends.

      Barbara was the daughter of Paul L. Crandall and Barbara Allen Crandall. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Victor L. Nielsen, Jr., and her second husband, Emery B. Dowell. She is survived by two brothers, Paul L. Crandall, Jr., and Dr. John A. Crandall; five children, Ericka Nielsen Barber, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Victor L. Nielsen III, Matthew C. Nielsen, and Paul M. Nielsen; eight grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren. She loved her family.

      She was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona, and received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Arizona State University. There she also met her husband, Vic Nielsen, who had signed up to write sports stories for the university's newspaper, the State Press, which Barb was editing that year. Continuing in their shared love of journalism, she and Vic worked at several newspapers after graduating, including The Superior (Arizona) Sun and the Chamberlain (South Dakota) Record. In Chamberlain they began their family with the first three of their five children; Ericka, Teresa, and Victor III. Having to put three children into snowsuits every day brought them back to Arizona, where Matthew and Paul were born.

      After dedicating 12 years to raising her children, she discovered a great talent and new love for teaching. She taught high school English and journalism throughout her entire career, most of which took place at Mesa High School. She loved teaching and loved her students, and was very popular with them as well. Several went on to careers in journalism and other aspects of writing.

      Barb had a long family history of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served in numerous callings as a teacher. Her extended Mesa family took much of her free time and attention, but she managed to travel with friends through Europe after she retired, and enjoyed playing bridge with old friends and colleagues for many years. She will be missed by all who knew her.

  • Sources 
    1. [S119] Ancestors and Descendants of Andrew Lee and Clarinda Knapp Allen by Gerald R. Fuller. Esther Fuller Dial, ed. The Andrew Lee Allen Family Organization, 1952.

    2. [S6138] Find a Grave page for Barbara Jean Crandall Nielsen Dowell.

    3. [S6205] Arizona, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1880-1935, on ancestry.com.

    4. [S5154] "Barbara Crandall Nielsen Dowell." Arizona Republic, 22 Feb 2021.

    5. [S5154] "Barbara Crandall Nielsen Dowell." Arizona Republic, 22 Feb 2021., date only.

    6. [S6138] Find a Grave page for Barbara Jean Crandall Nielsen Dowell., place only.

    7. [S3342] Arizona, County Marriage Records, 1865-1972, on ancestry.com.

    8. [S3363] Marriage license and certificate for Paul L. Crandall and Barbara Allen, 6 Jun 1924. Copy held by P & T Nielsen Hayden.

    9. [S1263] Personal records held by P & T Nielsen Hayden.