Barbara Crandall Nielsen Dowell

June 3, 1926 - February 16, 2021

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. The family would like to extend its deep gratitude to the team at Hospice of the Valley and to Visiting Angels for their genial and loving care of our mother through her final illness. There will be a viewing on Monday, March 1, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints North Stake Center, 933 E. Brown Road, Mesa, Arizona. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, March 2, at 10:00 a.m., also at the North Stake Center. Those who would like to participate remotely may use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7048495199?pwd=RFhUVUpoK0hWb2laRlNUUFdlUEhMQT09 Meeting ID: 704 849 5199 Passcode: NielsenFam In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Barbara C. Nielsen Scholarship Fund, Mesa High School, 1630 E. Southern Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85204-5220.