Paula Burke Nelson was born in Purcell, Oklahoma on December 26th, 1917 the youngest of 10 children born to Lucinda Hampton and Joseph Marcus Burks. Paula was a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She attended Ada High School and East Central State College. On December 30, 1939 she wed Harold Glenn Nelson at the First Methodist Church in Ada, Oklahoma.

The Nelsons moved to South Texas and in the following years, parented three children. In the late 1950's the family settled in Beaumont, Texas where she continued her education and cared for her active family.

In the late 1960’s and 70’s, Paula had a career in office management. She was well liked in Beaumont professional circles and formed lifelong friendships with her colleagues. Paula was a member of the American Business Women’s Association. She loved to travel and made many trips to Europe, Mexico and Hawaii. She was a talented painter and enjoyed creating beautiful works of art on porcelain china. She was an active member of the International Porcelain Artists and Teachers Guild       sharing her lifelong interest in the decorative arts.

Mrs. Nelson passed away on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013. She was preceded in death by her husband  of sixty-two years, Harold Nelson. She is survived by her three children and their spouses; Cheryl and Andy Anderson, Jan and Ray Richardson, and John and Joy Nelson; her grandchildren  Ashley Grosse, Rhett Johnson, Amanda Nelson, John D. Nelson, Lauren Winter; and eight great-grandchildren.

A gathering of friends and family will be held in Beaumont at her home followed by a family memorial in Ada, Oklahoma where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband.