As a little girl growing up, her mother, daddy, and little sister Kathleen moved around a lot. Orel had to go where the work was whether it was farming, pipeline or freight delivery. They lived in small rooms, shared houses, and even lived in tents. Nelda said this is why she never desired to tent camp for fun when she had her own family. The family finally settled in Sweetwater, Texas in 1949.
Nelda attended and graduated high school in Sweetwater in 1954. She had good friends there that she stayed in contact with for many years. Nelda accepted Jesus as her savior during high school at the age of 16 while attending a church summer camp.
After high school Nelda thought she might like to attend college or become a stewardess for an airline, but she worked as a secretary for a lawyer and then got a job at a Credit Bureau company. While working there a friend set her up on a blind date and she met the love of her life, Vernon Glen Lee. They fell in love instantly and 5 months later were married on October 5, 1956. They moved around a lot too due to Vernon's job with the railroad. They finally ended up in Austin around 1961. They were married 56 years before Vernon's death in 2013.
Nelda went back to work around 1963 at the Department of Public Safety so that they could buy a new car. Nelda joked that it took 30 years to pay that car off! She retired after those 30 years working in the drivers license department as a department head administrative assistant. She had many longtime friends from her years at DPS that she regularly visited with for coffee or lunch.
She loved dancing, bowling, reading, playing games and most of all traveling. She had an adventurous side with motorcycle riding, snow and water skiing, snowmobiling, hiking and camping (not in a TENT) all over the United States. Nelda and Vernon joined many clubs from square-dancing, motorcycle, RV and travel clubs where many happy times were lived and many friends made.
Most of all Nelda dearly loved her family! She was very close with her parents and sisters. She loved attending the family reunions visiting her cousins and their families. She loved Rhonda, Glen and Stephen deeply. She became "nanny" after having grandchildren and loved them deeply as well. The grandkids friends would meet her and love her as well becoming everyone's "Nanny".
She loved that Christmas was a huge family gathering at her home for many years. There was always lots of food, presents, games and love.
Nelda had an excellent memory and loved sharing stories of her happy childhood, her family, and the fun she had on all her and Vernon's many trips.
Nelda was a kind, strong, and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.
She loved us all "TOO MUCH"!
Nelda was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon; her parents; her youngest sister, Connie; and her daughter-in-law, Brenda Lee.
Nelda is survived by her children; daughter, Rhonda Shoemaker and husband Bill; son, Glen Lee; son, Stephen Lee and wife Tracy; sister, Kathleen Moore and husband Jim; brother-in-law, Jim McBroom, 11 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
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