EDNA ALICE KEITH NELSON
1919-2006
Edna Alice Keith Nelson has left her extended life on May 21, 2006 at the age of 87. She was born in Beaumont, Texas, where she attended Beaumont High School, then for 2 years she attended The University of Texas, where she met & later married Beaumont Attorney, Louis V. Nelson. Together they resided in Beaumont, Texas rearing seven children who survive her today.
They are in birth order from oldest to youngest: Louis Keith Nelson of New York City, Rebecca Alice Nelson Puryear of Kaufman, Texas, Gretchen June Nelson of Reno, Nevada, Jennifer Hansel Edna Nelson of Irving, Texas, Michael John Keith Nelson of Austin, Texas, Erik Louis Nelson of Plano, Texas, & Jessica Margaret Nelson of Austin, Texas.
With all these children there are of course grandchildren. And yes, there are six grandchildren: Rodney James Puryear of Chicago, Steven Louis Puryear of Phoenix, Christa Morgan Cooper of Reno, Sonny Crockett Cooper of Reno & finally Emily & Evan Nelson of Plano. Ms. Alice is also survived by her daughters & sons-in-law, Melissa Nelson, Carl Young, Jimmy Puryear & Lauren Nelson. Such a big family for such a big heart.
Ms. Alice returned to school in her mid-sixties to finish her Bachelor of Arts in Art at Lamar University in Beaumont to extend her life-long love of sketching, painting & teaching art. She was a long-time member of the Beaumont Art Museum, where she was an active member for over 30 years of her life. Her work has been a motivation & inspiration to many of her friends & even friends of the family. She has always had artistic ability & it would really come out when stood in front of a canvas or held her watercolor brushes. Perhaps there was something about how her children were her favorite work of art and her most cherished portfolio. It was always her children.
Alice Nelson was a gift to many people by just being so interested in who they were & all about them & their family in such a natural way. She welcomed many into her home & honored them always as her guest & as part of her own family, so much so that she became like an adopted mom or 2nd mom. She made them feel comfortable & happy while in her presence.
A close family friend wrote, “Her many talents as mother, artist, and mediator were played down to my level of understanding and ability to comprehend — she was a master at not intimidating a young person! Her love for her family was so evident. I felt small indeed in such an idyllic picture. You all were so fortunate to have the family she so carefully crafted and have the cherished memories to guide you as an adult in your endeavors. I do remember her vividly and am thankful that, for a time, I was a small part of Alice’s Wonderland.”
Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 1, 2006 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church with burial to follow at Magnolia Cemetery under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. A gathering of family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2006 at the Mortuary.
Alice Nelson, beloved wife, precious mother, adorable grandmother, & loyal friend to many, we cherish you, we miss you, but most of all, we honor & celebrate your life now & forever.
Your loving children
