Nettie (Pete) Wied

Nettie Mae (Pete) Wied, age 90, cherished mother and grandmother, and proud WWII veteran, left us early Friday morning, March 4, 2011. She is preceded in death by her beloved son, Harley M. Wied, Jr., and mother, Delia Phillips. She is survived by her daughter, Ellen (Terri) Wied of Austin, her son and daughter-in-law, Richard Wied and Jeanette Garner of Austin, her son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Mary Wied of Corpus Christi, and her daughter-in-law, Judy Wied of Austin. She was a loving grandmother and known as “Grannie Pete” to her three granddaughters, Kim Wied of Bangkok, Thailand, Amber Wied Johanson and husband, John, of New Braunfels, and Brandi Wied Shealey and husband, Clay, of Leesville, Louisiana. Nettie had three great-grandchildren she adored and was so thrilled in her last weeks to learn of a fourth on the way.

Nettie was born September 16, 1920 in Atlanta, Georgia. She often told her family stories of growing up with her many cousins in the mill village of Atlanta during the depression and families sharing milk cows and eggs. She moved to Texas when in her late teens and married the love of her life, Sgt. Marvin Maxey. Within months of their marriage, Sgt. Maxey died serving his country in July, 1942. Nettie, inspired by her husband’s example and sense of duty, joined the WAACS and re-enlisted in the WACS, serving during WWII as a radio operator. She achieved the rank of Staff Sgt and was acting 1st Sgt for her last year in service. Nettie was always enormously proud to have been among the first women troops to serve in the US Army. She spoke often of the friends she knew during those years of service and her experiences, particularly the times she got to go on a “real” mission acting as radio operator aboard a plane flying the west coast to spot Japanese air balloons being used to set forest fires. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1945, she returned to Austin to live with her mother, Delia, and began work at the IRS.

Nettie re-married in 1948 and had four children. Her children meant everything to her and she was a devoted stay-at-home mom while her children were young, involved in PTA, leading the cub scout pack and the campfire girls, pony league baseball, ballet, you name it, Nettie made sure her children had a rich, full life growing up, with many friends, love and laughter and activities. Her children still smile when they remember their mom greeting them each morning with “Rise and Shine” as she flipped on the lights.

Nettie always loved arts and crafts and was talented with oil painting and hand-crafted ceramics. After her retirement in 1982, she spent many happy times with her dear friends from the ceramics shop at Bergstrom AFB. She made so many beautiful pieces. Her family’s homes are filled with her wonderful creations and every Christmas is a wonderland of the beautiful Santas and villages she made for them. Even during her final stay at the hospital, she was working on her velvet pictures and creating mementos for her family.

Nettie was also an avid gardener and loved to putter around the yard, visit with her neighbors and sit on her back porch under the oak trees at her house on Rebel Rd. She never missed a chance to show friends and family her huge grapefruit tree that she grew from a seed.

In the last years of her life, Nettie lived with her daughter in S. Austin and they could often be seen taking their wheelchair walks around the neighborhood. They shared so many special times together and her now silent footprint, her little red walker, her velvet artwork, her peach tree just starting to bloom, will be treasured forever. Dearest Mom, it broke our hearts to lose you, but we know you are safe in paradise now.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 A.M., March 9, 2011 in the Chapel of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. Interment with U.S. Army Honors will follow services at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas.

For those desiring, contributions may be made in Nettie's memory to Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation, Inc., Dept. 560, Washington, DC, 20042-0560, (800)222-2294, www.womensmemorial.org.