84R33411 MGB-D
By: Metcalf H.R. No. 3353
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The city of Austin lost two beloved residents with
the passing of Dorothy Louise Nelson on April 21, 2015, at the age
of 92, and of her husband, Edward M. Nelson Jr., on May 16, 2015, at
the age of 90; and
WHEREAS, The former Dorothy Cornforth was born to John and
Ruby Cornforth on November 7, 1922, in Taylor, and she graduated
from Taylor High School; and
WHEREAS, Edward Nelson Jr. was born in Shreveport, Louisiana,
on December 5, 1924, to Edward Nelson Sr. and Florence Nelson; an
alumnus of John H. Reagan High School in Houston, he answered his
nation's call to duty during World War II by enlisting in the United
States Navy; after completing training in Pass Christian,
Mississippi, he served at sea for six months, delivering fuel to air
bases in Iceland, England, and Scotland; he subsequently attended
the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, where he received a bachelor of
science degree, and following his military service, he earned a
degree in mechanical engineering from The University of Texas at
Austin; and
WHEREAS, The couple exchanged vows of matrimony on June 15,
1946, and over the course of nearly seven decades together, they
nurtured a rewarding union that was made even richer with the
addition of two children, Edward and Deborah, as well as four
grandchildren, Alexander, Charlie, Emily, and Travis, and a
great-grandson, Barrett; and
WHEREAS, After beginning his career in the petrochemical
industry along the Gulf Coast of Texas, Mr. Nelson was hired by
J. Ray McDermott in 1961, and his job soon took him and his wife
across the globe, with assignments in such cities as The Hague,
Beirut, Brussels, and London; he spearheaded efforts to set up a
marine supply base in Great Yarmouth, England, and a docking space
for offshore construction vessels in Amsterdam, and he later
purchased 800 acres of land near Inverness, Scotland, for a
fabrication facility; in the latter part of his career, he
negotiated contracts in Switzerland, England, China, and Brazil,
and Mrs. Nelson ably managed their household transfers, finances,
children's schooling, and many other needs, even while in
environments of foreign customs and languages; and
WHEREAS, Active in community life, Mr. Nelson served as a
member of the Baytown Independent School District board of trustees
and as president and a board member of Vaughn House, a charity that
aids deaf adults with mental disabilities, and Mrs. Nelson made
beautiful quilts for the homeless and for immigrant families
through Refugee Services of Texas; and
WHEREAS, The Nelsons also were deeply devoted to their
Christian faith, and over the years, they taught Sunday school at
University United Methodist Church in Austin and St. Mark's United
Methodist Church in Baytown and volunteered with Kingdom Kamp, an
annual retreat for adults with mental disabilities; moreover, they
were founding members of the American International Church in
London as well as valued congregants of Faith United Methodist
Church in Austin and later Riverbend Church, where they contributed
to the Mobile Loaves and Fishes Ministry and where Mr. Nelson led
the men's Bible study group; and
WHEREAS, Throughout their lives, Edward and Dorothy Nelson
remained dedicated to their faith, their family, and to one
another, and though they are deeply missed, the couple left behind a
notable legacy that will continue to resonate in their community
for years to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Edward M. Nelson
Jr. and Dorothy Louise Nelson and extend sincere condolences to the
members of their family: to their children, Edward and his wife,
Olga, and Deborah and her husband, Wayne; to their grandchildren,
Alexander, Charlie, Emily, and Travis; to their great-grandson,
Barrett; and to their other relatives and many friends; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for their family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Edward
Nelson Jr. and Dorothy Nelson.