Bek Nelson

Bek Nelson (born Doris Dee Stiner; May 8, 1927 – March 28, 2015) was an American model and showgirl who turned to acting at age 29, making seven films and two dozen television shows in her first three years. Early life She was born Doris Dee Stiner in Goin, Tennessee. Her parents were Ralph Stiner and Mae Cole Stiner. She had four younger brothers and a younger sister. The family moved from Tennessee to Canton, Ohio, when Stiner was 18 months old. Her father worked as a metal sander and then later as an inspector for Timken Roller Bearing Company. At age 10, Stiner won a "Cutest Child" contest. She attended Lincoln High School from 1941 thru 1945. While in high school, she was active in dramatics, chorus, and student government, and had roles in the junior- and senior-class plays. New York After graduation, Stiner and a girlfriend moved to New York City, where Stiner found work as a Powers model. Her specialty was modeling swimsuits, for which she became well known through newspaper photos and ads. She first lived in Manhattan, then moved to Newark, New Jersey, as her swimsuit career built up. She won a number of small, local beauty contests, which again brought her newspaper publicity. She also served as a model for publicizing events and trade shows.