Lou Ella Nelson

Lou Ella Kennon Nelson was born June 6, 1923 in Wayside, Texas to Joy’a Joseph and Mabel Kennon. In the 1930s, her family homesteaded in Lon , NM for a number of years before moving to Roswell . Lou Ella graduated from Corona High School in May 1942 as the class salutatorian and later moved to El Paso . She served her country during WWII by working at Fort Bliss Station Hospital as a pay master. At Fort Bliss , she met her future husband, John Nelson (son of Horace and Nellie Nelson of Atlantic, Iowa), who was serving as a U.S. Army medic. They were married in Las Cruces on April 24, 1944 and celebrated 56 years of marriage. Lou Ella died at home on December 26, 2011 at the age of 88. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents; three brothers: Wilfred, Jim, and Dow; two sisters: Lavina and Gene; brother-in-laws: Don and Morris; and sister-in-law, Ivy. She is survived by her brother, Rev. Dr. Joe Kennon (Shirlene); sister-in-laws: Margie and Hazel; children: Sharon Kern (Rick), John, Eric (Dr. Phyllis Floyd), Col. Donna Brown (Mike), Mark (Laura); eighteen grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Lou Ella was active in her church, Fort Blvd. Methodist/Faith Methodist, for over 50 years. She enjoyed and invented many intricate crossword puzzles. She is loved and will be missed by her family and friends. Special thanks to the staff at Highlands Rehabilitation, White Acres, Choice Hospice, and her caregivers at home, Nelly Solis and Margarita Briones. Pallbearers will be: John Nelson, Eric Nelson, Mark Nelson, J.B. Bennett, Leon Metz, Rev. Dr. Joe Kennon, Rick Kern, and Mike Brown. Honorary pallbearers will be Wilbur Metz, Ed Anderson, and Scott Garretson. Visitation will be 5-7 pm Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at the Sunset Funeral Home Northeast, 4631 Hondo Pass. Funeral services will be at 11:30 am, Thursday, December 29,2011 at Faith United Methodist Church at 350l Hueco Ave. Burial 1:00 pm Thursday, December 29, 2011 at Fort Bliss National Cemetery .