Nellie Goodwin, 86, of Beaumont, died Monday, August 20, 2012, at Calder Woods, Beaumont.  She was born on September 3, 1925, in Port Arthur, to Lydia Jackson Kestler and William Kestler, and had been a lifelong resident of the area.

Survivors include her sons, Gary Tiller and his wife, Maggie Gradison, of Durham, North Carolina, and Lynn Lombardo and his wife, Tina, of Beaumont; grandchildren, Ryan Lombardo, Chett Tiller, and Kyla Tiller; and brother, Jack Kestler of Houston.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Frank Lombardo; and sister, Jean Durham.

Nellie was a devoted member of Calder Baptist Church. She had a great love of animals, especially cats. Nellie had a sassy sense of style and rarely missed her weekly beauty shop visits. Always the refined Southern lady, she could be wild about her Dallas Cowboys, tough as nails when life dealt her a curveball, and she always looked forward to having a little coffee while visiting with friends. The Greatest Generation has lost another standard bearer whose lessons will always be held dear by those who loved her.

A gathering of Mrs. Goodwin’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 23, 2012, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 24, 2012, at Calder Baptist Church, 1005 North 11th Street, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.

The family would like to thank the staffs of Calder Woods Retirement Community and New Century Hospice for their devoted support and care.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Some Other Place, P.O. Box 843, Beaumont, Texas  77704, or to Humane Society of  Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704.