Kaye Fraughton Nielson's Obituary
Kaye Fraughton Nielson passed away on August 3, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born in Heber City, Utah on December 8, 1943. Kaye was the third of six children raised by Elma Thompson Fraughton and Dee Jay Fraughton. Her childhood years were spent in San Diego, California, where she enjoyed waterskiing, going to the beach, and playing the piano. She graduated from Mission Bay High School in 1961 and continued her education at Brigham Young University.
In 1966, she met Kenneth Arvle Nielson and they married in the Salt Lake City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They made their home in the San Francisco Bay Area, and raised their four children in Danville, California.
While raising their children, Ken and Kaye enjoyed family time at the beach, cheering on the Oakland A’s and Raiders, eating dinner as a family both at home and at favorite restaurants, participating in sports, visiting national parks, going to Disneyland, and exploring the Bay Area. One memorable family tradition that Kaye initiated included Christmas Eve caroling. Everyone would help to make cinnamon and wintergreen hard tack candy, and fudge, and package them in festive containers. The family would then go to the homes of different friends, sing a few carols, and hand over some treats when singing, “…good tidings we bring...” from “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
Kaye found great joy in being involved with music and was a sought-after musician. She was heavily involved in and heading up musical performances throughout her life, including playing piano or organ for youth musicals, church choirs, school productions, weddings, funerals, and any other occasion where music plays an important role. Music was at the heart of many of the most spiritual experiences of her life.
Kaye lived an active lifestyle and especially loved to play tennis, water ski, and snow ski. She played tennis several times a week for many years, and particularly enjoyed playing in a women’s doubles group on a regular basis.
Kaye was a hard worker throughout her life. Her professional activities included work managing dental practices for more than 25 years. She could type really fast – a skill exploited by some of her children in high school in the 1980’s, before personal computers were common. They would turn over a messy, handwritten draft, and in no time, she would return a perfectly-typed paper.
In 2001, Kaye accepted the responsibility of caring for her elderly mother Elma, who died of thyroid cancer in 2012, and her disabled sister Karen. This intense, long-term caregiver role was all-consuming and required enormous patience and many sacrifices of freedom, money, health, and time. She gave it her all though, and as a result had very close relationships with her mother and sister and ensured they had the best care she could provide.
Kaye is preceded in death by her husband Ken, their much-missed daughter Rebecca, and her parents, Dee and Elma
Kaye is survived by her children Leslie (Matt), Cari (Tom), and Ken. She is also survived by Rebecca’s husband Mark, nine grandchildren, one recent grand-daughter-in-law, one brother, four sisters, their respective families, and many extended family members.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, August 6th, 11:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1059 E. Crestwood Road, Kaysville.
Graveside service will be held at a later time. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made the Utah Parents' Center, the former employer of Kaye's eldest daughter, Rebecca, who passed away 6 years ago. Utah Parent Center helps parents of children with disabilities to help their children to live productive lives. https://utahparentcenter.org/donate/
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