Mary Frances Nelson

Mary Frances was born on March 10, 1925, in Springfield, Missouri, to Dr. J. S. Rinehart, a physician, and Myrtle Dot Haworth Rinehart, an English teacher.

Her family lived briefly in Brownsville, Texas and West, Texas before moving in1938 to Flora, Indiana, which she always considered her home.

As a young adult she played the piano and organ in church, sang in the choir, and taught Sunday school. She graduated from Wheaton College with a degree in biology in 1947, completed her master’s degree in medical technology at Texas Christian University in 1949, and worked in the blood bank of St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Worth, 1949-1953.

In 1953 she married Charles Luther Nelson, who was employed by the United States Weather Bureau, and moved to University Park, Maryland, where she began her second career as a wife and mother and where the Nelson family lived until 1969, when Mr. Nelson retired and they moved to Greenville S.C. to put their two daughters in Bob Jones Academy.

Mary Frances and her family were charter members of Faith Free Presbyterian Church, which she attended faithfully until prevented by illness. Mrs. Nelson selflessly devoted her life to her husband and her children. To paraphrase Proverbs 31: 11 and 28, “The heart of her husband safely trusted in her,” and “her children have risen up and called her blessed.” A Godly Christian mother is a great blessing, and she will be greatly missed.

Mary Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, and her older daughter, Suzanne.

She is survived by her daughter, Rosemary Nelson Thrasher, and son-in-law, Steven W. Thrasher.

Although we grieve the separation from “Little Mommy,” we rejoice that she is waiting for us with our Savior in her heavenly home.

Visitation will be Friday, from 6:00 to 8:00, at Mackey Mortuary, 3100 Century Drive, in Greenville.

The funeral service is being held Saturday at 2:00 at Faith Free Presbyterian Church, 1207 Haywood Road, Greenville, S.C.

Burial will be at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens following the service.