Irene Nelson

Mildred "Irene" Nelson, 80, of Tom passed away on August 7, 2020 at Tyler, Texas.

On February 28, 1940, Irene was welcomed by her loving parents, Will R. and Zetta M. (Hollis) Delbridge, in Bell Buckle, TN. She graduated from Bell Buckle High School in 1958 where she was the star basketball player. It was on July 27 1959 when she married the love of her life, Larry D. Nelson, in Denton, TX. They spent 61 years making a life together with most of their adult life in the Dallas, TX area. She and her husband moved to Tom, McCurtain County around 2010 from Wylie, TX after retirement. Irene devoted her entire life taking care of her kids, grandkids and great grandkids. They were all very special to her and she very much enjoyed creating memories with them. She was a wonderful wife, mother and granny grunt. When she wasn’t making memories with her family, she enjoyed raising flowers. She had a green thumb and could grow the most beautiful flowers. She has roses planted throughout the state of Texas. Irene, also enjoyed fishing and playing poker. She loved a good challenge and could play a mean game of scrabble, dominoes, checkers and trust me she didn’t make it easy on you. She had a kind heart and has taken many people in or lent a helping hand in their time of need even if all she had to offer was a bowl of vanilla ice cream and anyone that knew her knew that ice cream was her favorite thing and it could always make you feel better. All she wanted was for you to feel safe, secure, loved, wanted and welcome. She was your soft spot to land on. Always there with open arms no matter the circumstances. Her door was always open and there waiting for you.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Robert Delbridge; two sisters, Betty Jones and Della Bland; Special friend, Zennia Ross.

Irene leaves her husband of sixty-one years, Larry, of the home; one son, Larry Nelson and wife, Cheryl of Wylie, TX two daughters, Cathy Stone and her husband, Bill of Tom; Kim Rush and her husband, Chris of Wichita, KS; six grandchildren, Bobby, Angela, Jonathan, Shane, Nicholas and Jessica; eight great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Ethan, Elissa, Lee, Mya, Lucy, Ace and Samuel; one brother, Billy Delbridge of Sidell, Illinois; three sisters, Allie Whitehead of Manchester, Tennessee, Nell Douglas of Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Lois Key of Krum, TX; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Graveside services will be held at 9:00 am on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at the Tom Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, August 14, 2020 at the funeral home.

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