Patricia Ann Nelson
October 30, 1933 - August 15, 2024

Patricia Ann Weaver Nelson, 90, of Greenville, passed away August 15, 2024, in Greenville. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M., Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be 1:00 P.M. until service time. Interment will be in Memoryland Memorial Park.
Patricia was born at home in Mishawaka, Indiana on October 30, 1933 to John and Elsie Weaver. Surviving being thrown through the windshield of her parents' car in an accident at 9 months old gave proof of God's great plan for her life. She spent her early years on her family's farm. She met the love of her life, Maynard Nelson, in second grade when he would pull her braids to tease her. Caring for animals on the farm, excelling in school, participating in many 4H projects, playing both the violin and accordian, and working at a local bank kept her busy until her engagement December 24, 1951. Shortly after their marriage on May 10, 1952, she became a Navy wife moving to Portsmouth, Virginia and soon cared for their daughter Julie and son Mark while Maynard was out to sea. Moving to Lafayette, Indiana after 4 years in the service life, she gave birth to another son, Jeff. During that time, she cared for their three children and helped put her husband through Purdue University while he worked 60 hour weeks. After a short year in John Day, Oregon, they moved to Splendora, Texas where Maynard worked in downtown Houston for Kirby Lumber Company. A job with the Sabine River Authority brought them to Jasper, Texas for almost 30 years where she kept the home fires burning, running kids to practices of various kinds, eventually working at Jasper Federal Savings and Loan to put their three children through Texas A & M College Station and Baylor Dental School.
After retirement, they bought 70 acres and built a home in Greenville, Texas. Together they loved travelling to Hawaii, Africa, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and all 50 states. She loved reading, crocheting, scrapbooking, sewing, and photography. She spent the past 36 years spoiling those grandchildren with family trips to DisneyWorld, sitting on the floor playing with them, going to their games and plays, and giving the best Christmas gifts ever! She adored getting to play with the 19 great grandchildren Maynard has yet to meet. Both were eagerly involved in the Gideon Ministry, and she grew in her passion for the Word of God at Ridgecrest Baptist Church and Community Bible Study. She loved serving in Awana, Vacation Bible School, and distributing Bibles with the Gideon Auxiliary. Never retiring from ministry, she continued crocheting blankets and scarves for local nursing homes and Raffa during For The City and sending them with those going on mission trips to Honduras and Guatemala. Together they did not take for granted that their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren would come to know the Lord, but spent time in prayer with and for them, reading and sharing Scripture, and living faithfully before them. Their prayers and legacy will surely continue to bear fruit.
A stroke in 2017 only slowed her a bit as Visiting Angels came in to care for her at home. Leading her caregiver to the Lord in that setting she deemed worth all the painful years dealing with the results of that stroke. Declining health meant a move with Vitas Hospice to Legend Rehab and Healthcare facility where she continued to amaze everyone with her strength, love, courage, and spunk until the Lord called her home August 15, 2024.
Her greatest achievements and legacy have earned her the praise recorded in Proverbs 31:10-31 which concludes:
''Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.'' (verses 29-31)
She is survived by her daughter, Julie Nelson Robinson and husband Barry of Greenville, Texas, sons, Mark Nelson and wife Kay of Tomball, Texas, and Dr. Jeffrey Nelson and wife Beth of Greenville, Texas; brother, Donald Weaver and wife Sue of Mishawaka, Indiana, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Woody Nelson and wife Annice of Tomball, Texas, and brother-in-law, Rex Cavanaugh of Alvin, Texas.
She is also survived by her adoring grandchildren, Dr. Eric Robinson of Austin, Texas, Stacie Robinson Bray and husband Aaron of Rockwall, Texas, Nicole Nelson Bridges and husband Noah of Hockley, Texas, Mitchell Nelson and wife Ashley of Tomball, Texas, Kyle Nelson and wife Kaci of Greenville, Texas, Kirk Nelson and wife Briana of Austin, Texas, Sara Sieffert and husband Kenny of Greenville, Texas, and Dr. Nicholas Nelson and wife Jessica of Temple, Texas.
Her precious great grandchildren include Anna and Isabella Robinson, Micah, Lucas, and Owen Bray, Becker and Bowen Bridges, Ellen, Kate, and Mark Nelson, Jillian, Kade, Josie, Kinley, and Jonas Nelson, Jack and Henry Sieffert, and Parker and Noah Nelson.
She has many adoring nieces and nephews and faithful friends as well.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Eric Robinson, Aaron Bray, Noah Bridges, Kyle Nelson, Mitch Nelson, Kirk Nelson, Kenny Sieffert, Dr. Nick Nelson.
Our family can't thank you enough for your love and prayers that have embraced and carried us and given us great peace. We rejoice now, like King David who mourned while his son was ill, but took off the sackcloth and ashes to put on royal robes of celebration after his homegoing.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Greenville Christian School or Greenville Gideons.

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