Georgia Nelson

Longtime Abilene resident Georgia Nelson died Dec. 16, at her daughter's home in Trophy Club, Texas, after an extended illness. She was 96.

Visitation will be on Friday, January 3rd, from 6:30-8:00 pm at Hamil Family Funeral Home. A memorial service is planned Jan. 4 at 1:00 pm, at Hillcrest Church of Christ, followed by burial at Elmwood Memorial Park. All are welcome, because welcome was Georgia's special gift, one she came by naturally.

Born Feb. 23, 1928, in St. Joseph, Illinois, Georgia was the fifth of seven children of Marie and Clyde Puckett. From a very young age, her mother was a single mom raising six children. They operated a home laundry where each family member did their part. Marie regularly invited airmen over for Sunday lunch, in part because she had five daughters. One of those guests, Ralph Nelson, became a regular. He and Georgia married June 6, 1946, the day after she graduated from Urbana High School, and the couple returned to his native Texas.

There, they spent the remainder of their life together and raised their three children - James, Lora and Jeff - mostly in Abilene, but in earlier years in Waco, Cameron and Denison.

Although she spent ten years as a computer operator at Abilene Christian University and ten at Strategis Property Tax Management, the focus of her life was her family. She was a regular room mother, cub scout leader, cinnamon roll baker and cook who opened her home with warmth and hospitality to her children's friends, extended family and the family's many friends at Hillcrest Church of Christ where Ralph served as an elder. Together they especially enjoyed serving widows and others in need.

The family's dining room table seated 18 and many Sundays every seat was filled, often with college students. Georgia's quiet, "warm sugar smile" as her granddaughter described it, welcomed everyone.

In addition to hosting, cooking and baking she loved playing 42 and 84 with friends. In her later years she especially enjoyed her walking "buddies" and a group of friends who called themselves "The Steel Magnolias."

And as her family grew to include seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, she especially enjoyed preparing their favorite foods.

She is remembered as a quiet spiritual leader who taught her children that true joy comes from serving.

She was preceded in death by her parents, five siblings and her husband of 60 years. She is survived by one brother, Jim Puckett of Midland, Michigan, and by her children, James and Donna Nelson of Lucas; Lora and Dick McGinn of Trophy Club; and Jeff and Carol Nelson of Abilene.

She is also survived by seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren: Kevin and Emily Nelson, Keith and Mitzi Nelson, Lindsay Nelson, Garrett and Kate McGinn, Tiffany and Joel Green, Christopher Nelson, and Nataleigh and Derrick Comparan. Her great grandchildren are Grace, Colt, Caleb and Makenzi Nelson, Max and Charlie McGinn, Noelle and Nora Green, and Eloise Comparan.

In lieu of flowers, please honor her memory through gifts to Zambia Missions, which she supported for many years at  

 https://zambiamission.org/donate-help/donate.html

Also, donations can be made by mail to:

Zambia Mission Fund

Box 3393 Abilene, Texas 79604-3393