Nellie Shomilin

Longtime Siskiyou County resident, Nellie Shomilin, passed away October 6, 2020 at Siskiyou Springs Assisted Living surrounded by family. Nellie was 103 years old. Nellie Shomilin was born Anastasia Turchen on January 20, 1917 in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. Her parents, John and Zena Turchen, emigrated from Russia. When Nellie was about 5 years old, her parents, along with 4 children in tow, immigrated to Chico. Not long after, they moved the family to San Francisco, where she grew up, and there her youngest brother, Walter was born. Nellie attended Starr King Elementary where a teacher encouraged an interest in music, and teaching her to read music. She attended Horace Mann Junior High where her interest in sewing was born and nurtured. At Mission High School, Nellie was involved in sports, including softball. Nellie met Chuck Shomilin at the First Baptist Church in San Francisco, where they both played in the orchestra. Chuck played the guitar and bass fiddle, while Nellie played the mandolin. Chuck was also a soccer player and they spent many fun-filled evenings after church and soccer events at various young people’s homes. Chuck competed with many ethnic groups including Russian, German, Irish, Italian and they enjoyed learning about many different nationalities. Having learned English at an early age, Nellie was her mother’s link to our culture as she taught her English. Chuck was the love of her life and they married when she was 21 on July 10, 1938. They had an incredible life living, working, and playing in San Francisco. They were a very handsome and compatible couple. In 1954, when Nellie was 37, they moved to Klamath River and bought Quigley’s store and the adjacent trailer park. They owned it for 17 years and she was postmistress for 15 years. One of her brothers lived with them for a while, and so did her mother and father until their deaths. Nellie and Chuck loved their friends, the outdoors, especially fishing, but most of their time was spent working hard, which both did well. They moved to Beaver Creek when they sold the store. Chuck was in the process of building their dream home on their property, when he died suddenly in the 70’s when Nellie was in her late 50’s. Nellie’s life changed dramatically. Someone invited her to Horse Creek Church, and she became a faithful member of the HCC community of believers. She played the organ there for 17 years, was involved in the Women’s Mission Fellowship and was President of that organization for many years. She also provided the weekly bulletins, and hosted the Women’s Bible Study for many years at her home. Ken Schubert was her Pastor when she joined the church, and he baptized Nellie in the Scott River in 1976. After a couple of years living alone up Beaver Creek on a mining claim, she made the move to the property she and Chuck had bought across from Quigley’s store. She brought in a mobile home where she lived until 2006 when she was 90. It became difficult to be so far out of town on her own, so Nellie gave up her car and moved to Brookdale, now Siskiyou Springs, residing there until her death on October 6th. Nellie is survived by her 3 nieces; Carol Beck, Nancy Ferguson and Jeanne Oldfield and their families; 3 great-nieces, 2 great-nephews, and 4 great-great-nieces and 1 great-great-nephew.

Nellie Shomilin

January 20, 1917 - October 6, 2020