Evelyn Mae Nelson

Evelyn Nelson was first and foremost a believer in Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She knew with certainty that when her time came to leave this world, she would be in His presence and enjoy Heaven with all the saints. There’s a party going on for her now!

Ev grew up as the middle child of eight other siblings (the Everts family was not even Catholic!), so she established her position in their “second family” which represented the last four children. You had to be tough to be an Everts, and she worked tirelessly to improve her lot in life.

Ev graduated from Benson High School in 1970 (where she met her future husband, Paul)— they married in 1973. and would have two children: Adam and Anna. After working at Avis Rental Car as a manager for several years, she returned to receive her higher education degrees at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She achieved a Masters +16 in Speech Pathology. Since she had real world experience, when she went back to college she was able to speak up in classes when she knew the professors were ignorant of a certain aspect they were espousing. Ev was not a shy person. She was bold in life!

This transferred to a career as a resource teacher in Ralston, NE (at Mockingbird and later Wildewood Elementary Schools.) Ev enjoyed developing young minds and would retire from the district only to return at the high school level in Bellevue NE. She worked there as a speech pathologist, and enjoyed the high school experience tremendously. Several of her former students still sought her advice and enjoyed visiting her up until the end of her life.

During the middle of her teaching career, Ev left for a short time to run her own button jewelry business from the home. She employed others in this venture (including her bookkeeping mother, Norma), and recently bequeathed the business name “Cute As A Button” to one of her artistic granddaughters, Avigail.

Ev was an avid reader, and passed this trait along as part of her legacy. Her three granddaughters (Felicity (Fi), Avigail and Ailsie) especially love to devour all kinds of books. She enthusiastically read and/or listened to Bible scriptures regularly. That helped shape who she would become.

Gardening also consumed much of “Grammy’s” time, especially during retirement. She loved her various gardens, and also collected globes and other yard art over the years to accentuate the flowers. Daughter, Anna Mayberry, took up her mother’s cause and has taken gardening to an even higher level. While Ev’s gardens consisted of flowers, Anna’s also includes a wide variety of fruits and veggies, to the delight of the family and friends. Paul, meanwhile, often had the privilege of chauffeuring Ev to flower sales throughout Metro Omaha and beyond.

To say that Ev was organized would be a gross understatement. There was a place for everything, and everything should be in its place. Paul didn’t know what a To Do List was until he met her. No matter the project, she was on top of it. For example, planning trips (especially those throughout Iowa for “Freedom Rock” excursions) consumed her attention for detail. She mapped out trips to find these Freedom Rocks, which honor veterans in each of

Iowa’s 99 counties. With fellow “rockers” Paul, brother Mike and his wife Linda, sisters Marilyn and occasionally Lindy, these trips were conducted over the past three years. Ev was determined to see them all and accomplished this goal in May.

Ev especially loved her family and was so proud of Adam and Anna as they grew to become responsible adults and parents. Since Paul wasn’t gifted at repairing things, Adam was leaned on often by his mother to save the day. Daughter in love, Evonne, shared many of Ev’s traits (including initials EMN) and was an invaluable resource, especially in Ev’s final days. Anna was Ev’s beautician and kept her informed of all the many family activities as well.

Anna married a man named Adam, so for the past two decades this has been fun but sometimes confusing at family gatherings!

Ev enjoyed outings at the Mayberry’s for pool time. She loved attending Fi’s (and later Avi and Ailsie’s) Stepperettes performances (baton/dance routines). Fi’s team went on to win a world championship in Milan, Italy in 2025, which thrilled her Grammy. Seeing Avi and Ailsie grow in American Heritage Girls events, as well as their brothers Asher and Asaiah do the same in Trail Life scouting activities, really made her feel proud. Sunday family gatherings at the grandparents’ home delighted her as well (as long as Paul cooked or had takeout!)

In this information age, Ev was not shy about expressing her beliefs with others. She loved her country. She longed for constructive dialogue instead of name calling. People didn’t always agree with her. She loved the sinner, but hated the sin. Ev wanted people to take responsibility for their actions. Once something was said in the open, they couldn’t take it back. She walked by faith and not by sight, putting on the armor of God daily (Ephesians 6:11-12). She loved the parable of the Prodigal Son, too.

Evelyn Mae Everts Nelson would admit that she was a work in progress. She was loved with an everlasting love, and now has progressed to her heavenly reward.

Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents, Michael (Max) Everts and Norma E. (Hatcher) Everts, and her brother Ronald Everts. She is survived by her husband, Paul V. Nelson, son Adam P. Nelson (Evonne) , daughter Anna L. Mayberry (Adam), grandchildren Felicity Nelson, Asher Mayberry, Asaiah Mayberry, Avigail Mayberry and Ailsle Mayberry. She is also survived by brothers Jim Everts (Bobbie), Michael Everts (Linda), Martin Everts, David Everts (Debbie), sisters Marilyn Gottsch, Linda Heyden and Jerre Kappel, sister-in-law Amy Miller (Ron), along with numerous nephews and nieces.