Thomas Edward Nelson

Thomas Edward Nelson, Jr., age 69, died Monday, June 6, 2005 at home, after a brief illness. Tom was born July 6, 1935, in Austin. He was the only child of Rebecca Young Nelson and Thomas Edward Nelson and was a native of Round Rock. His family has deep roots in Williamson County beginning in 1854 when his paternal grandfather, Andrew John Nelson, emigrated from southern Sweden and assisted many other Swedish immigrants with their passage to America and settlement in Central Texas. Tom was proud of his family’s heritage and remained active in the Williamson County community throughout his life. Tom attended Texas Military Institute in San Antonio but transferred to Stephen F. Austin High School to be close to his family after his father passed away. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He also received a degree from the Southwest Graduate School of Banking. After serving in the United States Army, Tom lived in Austin for the duration of his life. He was active in banking, farming and ranching, and real estate investments. He served on the boards of various banking and civic organizations including the Austin Chamber of Commerce, American National Bank, as Chairman of the Board of the former Farmers State Bank of Round Rock, as Chairman of the Board and President of the LaSalle Townsite Company, and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd where he was a vestryman, senior warden, and a Sunday school teacher. Tom enjoyed quail hunting and spending time with family and friends at his ranch in South Texas. Tom is survived by his wife of 46 years, Carol Corley Nelson. He is also survived by his son, Thomas Edward Nelson, III, and his children, Madeline Lewis Nelson and Thomas Edward Nelson, IV; his daughter, Rebecca Nelson Davis and her husband, Mark; and his son, John Corley Nelson and his wife, Kristen and their children, Jack Corley Nelson and Mary Caroline Nelson. A memorial service will be held in Austin at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2005. A private burial at Palm Valley Cemetery in Round Rock will precede the memorial service. Memorials may be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, or The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (pancreatic cancer research). The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. William McCarron, Dr. Frank Robinson and Dr. Demetrius Loukas. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com