Obituary for Mary Elizabeth Nelson
1927 – 2019
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Nelson (nee Brewster), passed away at Bethany CollegeSide, Red Deer, Alberta on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at the age of 92 years. Mary was born on May 14, 1927 at the Innisfail Hospital, the eldest child of James and Jean Brewster. Mary grew up on the family farm, two miles East of Bowden. She attended Summit School, and graduated from Red Deer High School. While attending High School, she met the love of her life, Royal Nelson. He was a cousin to one of her classmates, and was stationed in Red Deer, as a member of the Army Band Corps. Mary and Royal Steiner Nelson were married on June 24, 1946. They lived on the Nelson Family farm to begin their life together, moving to Red Deer in 1948, where they remained. Mary lived in her own home until she was 89 years old; at which time she needed more assistance with daily living, and moved to Bethany CollegeSide. Mary was a ‘stay at home Mom’ while her children were growing up. She believed that raising her children and helping with her grandchildren was a full time occupation. She believed that was one of the most important jobs with which one could be blessed. She worked at Walsh Galleries for a number of years, when her children were no longer at home. Mary was an accomplished artist in the traditional way, as she painted both oils and watercolours. She used all of her spare time to keep her hands busy, and made beautiful needlework, petti point, Hardanger embroidery, and knitting. She was proud of the fact that she gave back to her community by knitting toques for the NICU, and mittens for the Church Mitten Tree. She was well known to her neighbours; as she canvassed for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society, for many years. Mary was a member of Gaetz Memorial United Church for seventy years, the United Church Women, and the Eastern Star. She enjoyed the Fountain Friends (Art Group) and a Weaving (knitting) Group. She was always interested in learning something new. Mary will be lovingly remembered by her children and their spouses, Barbara and Gary Lawrence of Camrose, Diane of Red Deer, Alberta, Bill and Barbara of Victoria, British Columbia, Dave and Debra of Red Deer, Doug of Red Deer and Kathy and Ian Campbell of Okotoks, Alberta; and her foster daughter, Isabel MacBeth and Lachlan Bickley of Edmonton, Alberta. Mary was blessed to have eleven grandchildren: Brad Lawrence; Jim Nelson, Mary Jean and Greg Elliot, Ann Nelson and Sean Ramage; Jeremy Nelson, Tiffany Nelson and Andrew Patrick, Cynthia Nelson and Shane Kapkala; Danielle and Grant Johnson, Stephanie and Matt Cargill; Christopher and Kristin Nelson, and Andrew Nelson and Mona Ali; her great grandchildren, Cassie Eden and Ryan Purchase, Blaine Eden, Meghan Lawrence and John Wakelin, Frankie Lawrence and Xzaydrien Black; Taylor Nelson, Melissa, Donna, and Mathew Elliot, Justin Bilitski and Lilly Ramage; Coral Nelson, Cedar and Sequoia Nelson; Owen and Sydney Johnson, and Dreyden Cargil; Norah, Felix and Archer Nelson; her foster grandchildren, Abigail and Olivia MacBeth; and her great, great grandchildren, Hayden, Jacob and Hannah-Rose Purchase. Mary will also be sadly missed by her brothers, Bob and Iyla, and Albert and Michele Brewster; her sister, Lorna Sinclair; and her sisters-in-law, Melva Brewster, Betty Brewster, Betty Matheson and Emma Nelson. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Royal in February 2003, and her eldest son, Bob in February 2018. She was also predeceased by her parents, Jim and Jean Brewster, and her brothers, Jim and Bill. A Funeral Service will be held at Gaetz Memorial United Church, 4758 – 50 Street, Red Deer, Alberta on Monday, September 16, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. If desired, Memorial Donations in Mary’s honor may be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation at www.heartandstroke.ca, or to the Canadian Cancer Society at www.cancer.ca. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040 or 1.800.481.7421.
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Nelson (nee Brewster), passed away at Bethany CollegeSide, Red Deer, Alberta on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at the age of 92 years. Mary was born on May 14, 1927 at the Innisfail Hospital, the eldest child of James and Jean Brewster. Mary grew up on the family farm, two miles East of Bowden. She attended Summit School, and graduated from Red Deer High School. While attending High School, she met the love of her life, Royal Nelson. He was a cousin to one of her classmates, and was stationed in Red Deer, as a member of the Army Band Corps. Mary and Royal Steiner Nelson were married on June 24, 1946. They lived on the Nelson Family farm to begin their life together, moving to Red Deer in 1948, where they remained. Mary lived in her own home until she was 89 years old; at which time she needed more assistance with daily living, and moved to Bethany CollegeSide. Mary was a ‘stay at home Mom’ while her children were growing up. She believed that raising her children and helping with her grandchildren was a full time occupation. She believed that was one of the most important jobs with which one could be blessed. She worked at Walsh Galleries for a number of years, when her children were no longer at home. Mary was an accomplished artist in the traditional way, as she painted both oils and watercolours. She used all of her spare time to keep her hands busy, and made beautiful needlework, petti point, Hardanger embroidery, and knitting. She was proud of the fact that she gave back to her community by knitting toques for the NICU, and mittens for the Church Mitten Tree. She was well known to her neighbours; as she canvassed for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society, for many years. Mary was a member of Gaetz Memorial United Church for seventy years, the United Church Women, and the Eastern Star. She enjoyed the Fountain Friends (Art Group) and a Weaving (knitting) Group. She was always interested in learning something new. Mary will be lovingly remembered by her children and their spouses, Barbara and Gary Lawrence of Camrose, Diane of Red Deer, Alberta, Bill and Barbara of Victoria, British Columbia, Dave and Debra of Red Deer, Doug of Red Deer and Kathy and Ian Campbell of Okotoks, Alberta; and her foster daughter, Isabel MacBeth and Lachlan Bickley of Edmonton, Alberta. Mary was blessed to have eleven grandchildren: Brad Lawrence; Jim Nelson, Mary Jean and Greg Elliot, Ann Nelson and Sean Ramage; Jeremy Nelson, Tiffany Nelson and Andrew Patrick, Cynthia Nelson and Shane Kapkala; Danielle and Grant Johnson, Stephanie and Matt Cargill; Christopher and Kristin Nelson, and Andrew Nelson and Mona Ali; her great grandchildren, Cassie Eden and Ryan Purchase, Blaine Eden, Meghan Lawrence and John Wakelin, Frankie Lawrence and Xzaydrien Black; Taylor Nelson, Melissa, Donna, and Mathew Elliot, Justin Bilitski and Lilly Ramage; Coral Nelson, Cedar and Sequoia Nelson; Owen and Sydney Johnson, and Dreyden Cargil; Norah, Felix and Archer Nelson; her foster grandchildren, Abigail and Olivia MacBeth; and her great, great grandchildren, Hayden, Jacob and Hannah-Rose Purchase. Mary will also be sadly missed by her brothers, Bob and Iyla, and Albert and Michele Brewster; her sister, Lorna Sinclair; and her sisters-in-law, Melva Brewster, Betty Brewster, Betty Matheson and Emma Nelson. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Royal in February 2003, and her eldest son, Bob in February 2018. She was also predeceased by her parents, Jim and Jean Brewster, and her brothers, Jim and Bill. A Funeral Service will be held at Gaetz Memorial United Church, 4758 – 50 Street, Red Deer, Alberta on Monday, September 16, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. If desired, Memorial Donations in Mary’s honor may be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation at www.heartandstroke.ca, or to the Canadian Cancer Society at www.cancer.ca. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040 or 1.800.481.7421.