Joann Cranford Nelson

She was born on June 17, 1932, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Erna and John Cranford. In 1937, she moved with her family to Garland, Texas. She proudly graduated from Garland High School in 1949, where she met her loving husband of 73 years, Paul “Pete” Nelson. She carried lifelong memories and friendships from her early years and began building a life defined by devotion, strength, elegance, and family.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Paul “Pete” Nelson; her son, Robert Nelson; and her daughter-in-law, Susan Nelson.

She is survived by her son, Ric Nelson, and her three cherished grandchildren: Holly Stewart and her husband, Neil; Jonathan Nelson; and Michael Nelson and his wife, Lacey; along with her three great-grandchildren, Ainsley, Elle, and Eli, who brought her immense joy. She fiercely loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and took pride in every milestone, accomplishment, and happy moment in their lives.

Together, she and her husband spent many years building and caring for their ranches in Forney and Canton, Texas, creating a legacy of hard work, family tradition, and enduring love.

She dedicated 40 years of her professional life to Texas Instruments, where she faithfully supported corporate leadership and executives with professionalism, discretion, and steadfast commitment. She deeply valued her TI family and the many relationships formed over four decades of service.

Even until recently, she remained impressively tech-savvy well into her later life — researching anything that sparked her interest online and faithfully emailing photos, updates, and proud notes about her grandchildren’s accomplishments to friends and family.

A woman of deep faith, Joann was a devoted and longtime parishioner of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church by the Lake. She loved and supported her church family wholeheartedly. She also gave generously of her time as a volunteer with the Garland Landmark Society and Museum, helping preserve the history and spirit of the community she cared so much about.

Those who knew her best knew her as strong-willed, capable, and undeniably the matriarch of the family — the one who kept everyone organized and ensured things were done thoughtfully and well.

She and her husband loved to travel, visiting throughout Europe and returning to Germany multiple times. She carried herself with elegance in everything she did — always impeccably put together, her beautiful hair a signature and source of pride.

Above all, Joann will be remembered for her fierce love of family, her unwavering strength, her faith, and the legacy she leaves behind through the generations she helped shape.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society:

diy.bloodcancerunited.org/SusanandRobertNelson