Nancy Ann (Nelson) Stetson, “Mickey”, 81, of Beaumont, Texas, died November 22, 2015. Nancy was born July 29, 1934, in Hartford, Connecticut. Her parents were the late Philip Hathaway Nelson and Laura Hume Sprague of Gouverneur, New York. Nancy spent her youth in Gouverneur and at the family’s summer camp at Sylvia Lake, New York, which remained throughout her life, her favorite place on Earth. In 1952, she graduated from Gouverneur High School as Salutatorian.
Nancy earned her bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College in Ohio in 1956. She then earned her master’s degree from Middlebury College, in Vermont studying French.
Prior to her marriage to Gordon Stetson on August 15, 1959, Nancy spent the summer touring Ireland by bicycle. She also spent time in Paris, France, as part of her graduate work. An avid golfer and outdoors woman, she and her husband lived in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. She taught French at Johnsburg Central Schools in North Creek, New York. After her divorce in 1975, Nancy and her two daughters moved to southern New York. In 1994, she moved to Texas to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. Nancy’s homes in Texas included Cedar Creek Lake, Woodville and then Beaumont.
Her summers spent at Sylvia Lake instilled a love of water, canoeing and fishing which she pursued throughout her life. In high school and college she played women’s basketball, was a first string violinist, and a Girl Scout camp counselor. As a talented golfer, she participated in Pro-Am women’s golf tournaments throughout her adult life.
Nancy is survived by two children, her daughters, Suzanne M. Stetson and her husband, Bruce M. Acton, of Keysville, Virginia and Christine L. Stetson. of Beaumont, Texas; her brother, Honorable David S. Nelson, of Canton, New York; grandchildren, Michael S. Acton, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Air Force SSGT Alaina M. Acton, of Cheyenne Wyoming, Jack G. Guidry and Mae E. Guidry, of Beaumont, Texas; nephew, Greg Nelson, of West Simsbury Connecticut; and niece, Karen Hunter, of Phoenix, Arizona; and their families.
Her daughters would like to thank all the staff at Harbor Hospice for their care, kindness, and compassion in the last days of Nancy’s life.
A gathering of Mrs. Stetson’s family and friends will begin at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, November 28, 2015, in the Cloister Room at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 680 Calder Avenue, Beaumont. Her memorial service will follow at 4:00 p.m., in the Sanctuary. Cremation arrangements were handled by Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.
Donations in her honor may be made to Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704.
