Joan Nelson, 87, of Wichita, passed away on April 18, 2020, at Ascension Via Christi- St. Francis in Wichita. She was born April 15, 1933, at Hutchinson, the daughter of James and Myrtle Long.

Joan graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1951. She worked for Meyers- Williams Photography and retired after 23 years. She had also worked at The Model and West Street Toybox. Joan had many hobbies and interests. She enjoyed gardening, pets, genealogy, Elvis and listening to country music. But most of all she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She had a fondness for sweets and loved to make desserts. There was always a full candy dish of M&M's in her house.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Betty Jean; brothers, Vearl Lynn and Richard.

Survivors include her daughter, Vicky DeGeer, Wichita; sons, Randall Nelson and wife Kim of Tulsa, OK., Rodney Nelson of Wichita; two sisters, Mary Brown and husband Bob and Janis Smyth, all of Hutchinson; three brothers, Dean Long of Hutchinson, Roy Long and wife Bertha of Windom and Ronald Long and wife Jan of Hutchinson; two grandchildren Warren Nelson and Molly Nelson of Tulsa, OK.

A private family visitation and graveside service will be held Thursday, April 23, 2020 at Eastside Cemetery. Friends and family may sign the book Wednesday, April 22, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hutchinson Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Puppy Haven Rescue or Harry Hynes Hospice and can be sent in care of Hutchinson Funeral Chapel, 300 E. 30th Ave., Hutchinson, KS 67502.

"I worked at the Fox Theater in Hutchinson, Kansas, and enjoyed some memorable promotions, including my night as a stand-in for Elizabeth Taylor.
When the Fox opened in 1931, it was a big deal. The Hutchinson News called it "one of the finest theaters it is possible to build." The theater marquee was said to be the state's first display of flashing neon lights in Kansas. (It still works today and is a colorful part of the restored theater.) A special bonus was "refrigeration," the term used back then for air conditioning.
The theater also had live midnight music shows after the movies, bringing in Xavier Cugat, Les Brown and His Band of Renown, and other big names.
I worked at the fox for 30 hours a week at 40 cents an hour in my last two years of high school. That $12 went a long way toward school needs and spending money.
Employees would wear cowboy and cowgirl outfits when a Western was coming to town, and there'd even be horses outside the theater, In those days, movie-going was truly magical.
My best memory of working at the theater is from the summer of 1950, when I wore a copy of Elizabeth Taylor's wedding dress from the movie, Father of the Bride.
The dress was on display for a couple of weeks before the movie came to town. then, on July 29, the night of the first showing at the Fox, the C.O. Mammel Bakery in Hutchinson contributed a wedding cake. And I was the lucky one who got to wear that fancy dress and serve up pieces of cake to celebrate the premiere!" (please see the photo in the photo gallery.)