Edna Lois Nelson (1928-1993)

Edna Lois Nelson was born November 4th, 1928, to John William Nelson and Electa Coltrin.

Her mother was very overprotective of her, and she spent her entire life never living on her own., and she never married

She had quite a few hobbies that she used to fill her time, including crocheting, doing crosswords and other puzzles, and reading the paper, as well as watching TV.

She was a sport statistics fanatic, and could rattle off name and dates concerning football.

In about ____, she contracted breast cancer and had to have a unilateral mastectomy.

She passed away February 20th, 1993.

Personal Memories/Anecdotes

John Elliott

• I remember her as a constant presence on our trips to Mathis as a child. After her mastectomy, my dad had a talk with me in the car on the way to their house concerning it, and explaining to me in a way I could understand what happened, and that I needed to be sure not to stare. At that point I don't think his telling me about it made a difference, except that it made me aware of a condition I probably would have been oblivious to in the first place. Where I likely would have not noticed anything, I instead spent that visit stealing glances from across the room or around the corner, when I thought no one could see me, trying to figure out which breast had been removed. In the end, the clothing she wore made it so I couldn't tell anything was different.
• Aunt Edna made me a clown throw rug when I was a child, that had a 3D head. I have seen one photo in the family collection of it - I'm almost sure it was a Christmas present. I got rid of it in my early teens, during a "throwing away childish things" purges. I so wish I still had it.
• I had my own phone line in my room when Aunt Edna died. My phone rang the morning of February 21st, 1993 - it was my grandmother on the line. My first thought was that she was calling to wish me a happy birthday, but she had forgotten the date, as my birthday was on the 22nd. Instead she had forgotten/didn't have the main home phone number, and thought my number was the main number for the house. Very strange having to let my dad know he had a phone call in my room. I never did get a happy birthday greeting from her that year.