PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Julie Russell Nelson, a wife, mother, grandmother and former Pollock Pines business owner whose life was marked by devotion to family and concern for others, died peacefully at her Placerville home on Oct. 7, 2026. She was 78.
Nelson was surrounded by her husband of 57 years, Gene, and their children, Paul and Sarah, when she died.
Born Sept. 19, 1948, in Hampstead, London, England, Nelson was the eldest of five children born to Geoffrey Frank and Marjorie Ann Russell. She immigrated to the United States with her parents and siblings as a young girl, grew up in California and graduated from high school in Menlo Park.
She later studied cosmetology at the College of San Mateo, beginning a path that would eventually lead to her own business in El Dorado County.
A love story spanning more than five decades
Nelson and Gene’s relationship began when they were both 16. Gene entered the U.S. Army at 17 and served in Vietnam. After his military service, the couple found their way back to each other and married June 20, 1969.
Their marriage spanned more than 57 years, carrying them through military service, raising children, building a business and establishing a home in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
In 1980, the couple moved with their children from Half Moon Bay to Pollock Pines. There, Nelson owned and operated Julie’s Hair Designs, serving the community through her work as a cosmetologist.
The family moved to Placerville in 1989, where Nelson continued building the life and relationships that would define her years in El Dorado County.
Family at the center of her life
Above all, Nelson cherished her family. She took particular care in making holidays, birthdays and family gatherings meaningful, remembering the small details that helped loved ones feel special.
Her legacy extends across generations. She is survived by Gene; their children, Paul and Sarah; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and her four siblings.
Those who knew Nelson also remember her willingness to help people facing difficult circumstances. She listened patiently, offered encouragement and spoke honestly, even when her advice was not necessarily what someone wanted to hear.
Her approach reflected a belief that compassion and personal responsibility could work together. She wanted others to recognize their own strength and take ownership of the direction of their lives.
Faith and resilience through difficult years
Nelson faced health challenges over the years but, according to her family’s remembrance, met those difficulties with remarkable strength and a positive outlook. She rarely complained about what she was enduring.
Her Christian faith remained an important source of comfort. In her final days, Nelson told her family that she was at peace with God — a reassurance that continues to comfort those she left behind.
Her life brought together the experiences of an immigrant child who grew up in California, a business owner who became part of the Pollock Pines community, and a longtime Placerville resident whose greatest investment was in the people she loved.
Family thanks hospice and funeral care teams
Nelson’s family expressed gratitude to Snowline Hospice for its compassionate care during her final days.
The family also thanked the staff at Miller Funeral Home in Folsom for their kindness, guidance and thoughtful attention during a difficult time.
A private family celebration of life was held in Nelson’s honor.
Her family remembers a woman who offered love through everyday acts of care, spoke from the heart and faced life’s challenges with faith and determination.
For those closest to her, that legacy will continue through the generations she helped raise and the people whose lives she touched.
