BLOOMING PRAIRIE — Think of happy girls’ names.

Names like Allegra, meaning quickly with a happy air.

Or Felicia, meaning lucky, fortunate.

Or Hillary, meaning cheerful.

Or Joy, meaning the obvious.

Think of Katie, meaning all things happy and positive and more to those still mourning the death of Katie Ann Nelson

“She was a sharer,” said her mother, Shirley Nelson. “She liked to share her blessings with everyone she met in life.”

“She liked to guide people, too, to be their best just like so many people guided her in college and work,” Nelson said.

“If there was anything she would like to be known today, I think it’s that the show must go on no matter what. Always,” the mother said.

Katie Ann Nelson, 29, died March 20 of a massive primary brain tumor.

The death came suddenly, according to the family. One day alive, the next day in a hospital, the following day gone.

The daughter of Paul and Shirley (Smith) Nelson, a Blooming Prairie farm family, has become a tragic martyr in death and also an inspiration.

Her funeral was held March 28 at St. Columbanus Catholic Church, Blooming Prairie.

On Wednesday, her parents and others gathered at the Nelson home to write “Thank yous” for the words and gestures of sympathy.

“There was a great out-pouring of love at the visitation and the funeral,” her mother, Shirley, said. “There was a huge number of people at both the visitation and the funeral mass.”

“We are so grateful to everybody,” she said.

The private family matter has become a public sharing of grief, one that is occurring on North Main Street in Austin.

Shirley Nelson admitted her daughter had a “second mother,” who was an important influence in her life.

That was Marie Fryer, owner of Belles & Beaus Bridal and Formal Wear in Austin, where Katie Ann Nelson worked.

Fryer met Nelson 10 years ago.

The young woman had been active in local theater productions and was making a name for herself on the stage.

Belles & Beaus has costumed many performers in local stage productions; thus Nelson frequented the downtown business.

Nelson sought a job there, and Fryer hired her.

A graduate of Minnesota State University — Mankato with a degree in theater and dance, Nelson most recently juggled massage therapy studies at Riverland Community College with her expanding role at Belles & Beaus, where Fryer made her floor manager.

“She could do everything, even sew,” Fryer said.

The friendship continued to blossom and was, Fryer said, stronger than ever at the end. “Everybody liked her at the store. We all liked being around her,” Fryer said.

Then, a change occurred.

“She didn’t know anything was wrong. She was just her normal, happy, positive self. There were headaches and sometime she seemed pensive, but it just came on so quickly,” Fryer said. “No one knew — not even Katie — there was anything really wrong.”

The death touched many. There is a void at Riverland Community College; one less dancer to take the stage. The woman who guided so many brides in their wedding plans and so many young women in picking the “perfect” prom dress is not a part of those events anymore.

The death, so cruelly sudden, of a popular face among Austin’s downtown business community, is still a shock.

“Live life to the fullest,” said Fryer of the lesson to be learned from the tragedy. “That’s all we can take from something like this. Don’t take anything for granted.”

Katie Ann Nelson’s life was happy and full of color, color from the world of stage productions such as “Annie” and “Guys and Dolls.” Color also from the rainbow of wedding gowns and prom dresses at Belles & Beaus, where the woman shined, a human beacon that attracted attention.

“We still think about her. It’s a constant,” Fryer said.

One day alive, the next day a brain tumor and then death. A passing that touched strangers.

One that will touch others with life: She willed that her organs be donated to LifeSource.

“It’s still a huge loss,” Fryer said, needing to add nothing more.