Nellie "Nell" Joyce Truman

Nell was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, and raised nearby in Rayne. In 1952, she met and married William “Bill” Brown Truman, an Ohio native and member of the U.S. Air Force stationed in Lake Charles. Their story began at a dance hall, where an evening of fun and dancing sparked a love that would last a lifetime. They were married for 53 years, until Bill’s passing in 2005.

Nell loved spending time with family, and true to her Louisiana Cajun roots, any excuse (or no excuse at all) was good enough for a celebration where laughter and food were generously shared. Cooking for loved ones brought Nell great joy, and through it, she proudly shared her cultural heritage.

Nearly as much as family, Nell loved antiques – a passion that began in the late 1950s, when she found a Royal Doulton figurine at a garage sale for 25 cents. That small find inspired a lifelong interest in southern history and preservation. She was one of the original owners of The Apple Box Antiques and later served as Executive Director of the Beaumont Heritage Society, where she championed local history through education, travel, and community events. Her final venture, Nell's Antiques, kept her joyfully active into her seventies, and though she eventually retired, her enthusiasm for antiques never faded.

Nell is survived by sons Vance Truman (Kathryn), Keith Truman (Karen), Bill Truman (Kim), and daughter Mindy Truman Hashop (Steve), 8 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband William Brown Truman, daughter Florence Gayle Truman, parents Louis and Audrey Alleman, 4 sisters and 1 brother.

To honor our mother’s wishes there will be no memorial service. She will be laid to rest near her husband and first-born child in Louisiana. We invite you to honor Nell Truman’s memory in your own personal way. Her spirit will surely remain with us all.

Please consider making a donation in Nell’s name to the Alzheimer's Association. Please visit the Tribute page at: https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pg=fund&fr_id=1060&pxfid=963099 to donate in her memory.