Eunice Nelson

Funeral services for Eunice Johnson Nelson, age 98, are set for Friday, March 13, 2009 at 3 p.m. at the Whaley United Methodist Church with the Reverend Jim Goodwin officiating.

Burial will follow in the Nelson Grove Cemetery, under the direction of the Geo. J. Carroll and Son Funeral Home.

Mrs. Nelson passed away on March 10, 2009, one month prior to her 99th birthday.

Eunice was born on April 11, 1910 in Leo to Charlie and Euga Jones Johnson. She became a member of the Methodist Church at Era in 1923 and a member of the Whaley United Methodist Church. Eunice attended schools in Leo, Era, and graduated from Gainesville High School.

Eunice married John Robert Nelson on Nov. 18, 1927. Bob and Eunice lived at Woodbine and became parents of three sons and one daughter. She was active in Home Demonstration activities from 1930 to 1944. The family moved to Gainesville in 1945 while their children finished high school and college and started their own families. They moved their house and themselves back to Woodbine in 1970.

Eunice has served as president of the Nelson Grove Cemetery Association, treasurer and president of the Woodbine Community Improvement Club, Past Regent and other offices of Rebecca Crockett NSDAR including ten years as it’s Registrar. She was also a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. As a skilled genealogist, Eunice assisted many in the area in learning to research their family histories. She was a past member of the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, and has been an appointed member of the Cooke County Historical Commission since 1972, a member of the Texas State Historical Survey Commission, Cross Timbers Genealogical Society, Cooke County Heritage Society and a volunteer for the Morton Museum and Cooke County Hospice.

Mrs. Nelson contributed text from her fabulous memory and photographs from a vast collection of historical photos to almost every volume printed to preserve and present the history of Cooke County. She made many presentations to and had interviews with children from schools, college, and organizations to share her knowledge of history and community and welcomed visiting tours to the historic Nelson Log House which stands beside her home. She was instrumental in gaining recognition for Nelson Grove Cemetery and the Nelson Log House as Texas Historical Landmarks, and the Nelson Grove Farm as a Family Farm Heritage property with the State of Texas.

Mrs. Nelson was preceded in death by John Robert Nelson, her husband of 55 years; three sons, Robert Irving, James Edward and Carroll Evertett and grandson, Charles David.

Survived by her sister, Alma Argo of Ardmore, Okla. and her daughter, Alma Lou Hill of Houston; two daughters-in-love, Mary Nelson Clifford of Dallas and Carolann Nelson of Gilbert, Ariz.; eight grandchildren, Bob Nelson of Gainesville, John Nelson of Scotts Mill, Ore, Cathy Hill Gabriel of Houston, Michael Hill of Houston, Jeffrey Nelson of Fultondale, Ala., Celia Nelson Bomar of Birmingham, Ala., Scott Nelson of Chandler, Ariz. and Lorene Nelson Harnishferger of Chandler, Ariz and eight great-grandchildren.

The Pallbearers are grandsons, Bob Nelson, Michael Hill, Larry Gabriel; great-grandsons, Robert Hill and Thomas Hill and family friend Bill Weatherly.

Memorial contributions may be made to Home Hospice, P.O. Box 936, Gainesville, TX 76241; Nelson Grove Cemetery c/o Bill Weatherly, 1204 Hillside, Gainesville, TX 76240.