Elizabeth Nelson

Elizabeth Raylene Stowe Weaver Nelson of Coppell, Texas passed away on September 11, 2025. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Ray and Irene Stowe on February 19, 1928. Elizabeth grew up with her brother Richard in West Allis and Hales Corners, Wisconsin, graduating high school as Valedictorian and with high honors from Carroll College in Waukesha. She married a Texan, Bob Weaver. After a time in San Francisco, while Bob was deployed to Korea with the Navy, they moved to Dallas where Elizabeth lived out her life. She and Bob raised three children, Laurie, Lindy, and Robert.

Many people benefited from Elizabeth’s creativity and generosity, especially her family. Elizabeth was actively involved in church choir, women’s ministry, and working at Bradenco. Elizabeth was an English and drama major, often producing and acting in programs, pageants, and plays in the community and the church. For many years she used her trained voice to record books. With Robert as her sound engineer, she recorded at Dallas Taping for the Blind, for the Library of Congress, for a blind friend, and for a grandchild working through dyslexia. After moving from Dallas to Coppell in 1984, she met her second husband John Nelson while they were involved in community theater. They married in 1990 and became founding members of Theatre Coppell. She acted in plays in Coppell and at the Irving Arts Center. The Nelsons spent many Christmas seasons appearing as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus for school, community, and non-profit events. Elizabeth published a book, The Night Before the First Christmas. She escaped the Texas heat by spending 17 seasons working in the reservations office at the YMCA of the Rockies. She traveled to many other parts of the country and the world. Elizabeth was an amazing and fun grandmother to nine grandchildren, introducing them to travel, to the arts, and to serving as elves for Mr. and Mrs. Claus. There was always a place at Elizabeth’s table for guests on Sundays and on holidays.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Irene Stowe, brother Richard Stowe, first husband Walter Robert Weaver, Jr., and second husband John Arthur Nelson. She is survived by children Laurie and Daniel Lewis, Melinda and Lindsey Thomas, and Robert and Lori Weaver. She is also survived by grandchildren Bonnie and Chris Downing, Erin and Ruben Castillo, Abbey and Dane Daniels, Ross van Compernolle, Walter Robert Weaver III, Matthew and Laci van Compernolle, Susanna and Jim Copeland, Travis Weaver, and Zachary Weaver; and by great-grandchildren Evie, Broly, Avery, Addison, Steven, Eleanor, Lyla, Jonathan, Miley, Zelda, and Sukie, and by sister-in-law Nancy Stowe. John’s children and grandchildren also held a special place in Elizabeth’s heart.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 20 at 10:00 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 2807 Valwood Parkway, Farmers Branch, Texas 75234. Visitation with the family will be after the service at the church, with a light lunch served. Inurnment will be at the YMCA of the Rockies at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Theatre Coppell or the YMCA of the Rockies chaplain ministry.