Libby Nelson

Libby Nelson, 94, formerly of Carlsbad, New Mexico, passed away on March 29, 2016, in Marble Falls, Texas following a stroke. Visitation will be held at Denton-Wood Funeral Home on April 6, 2016 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church of Carlsbad, New Mexico, on April 7, 2016 at 1:30 PM with Reverend Randy Land officiating. Interment will follow in Carlsbad Cemetery. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Libby was born in Richland Springs, Texas to Kelbert Kneer Taylor and Eula Lee Ellis Taylor on January 22, 1922. She attended W.H. Gibbons High School in Richland Springs, Texas and graduated in 1939 as Class Salutatorian. While attending business school in Abilene, Texas in 1941, the events at Pearl Harbor prompted her to apply for civil service employment. Libby was requested to report to Washington, D.C., working as a civilian clerk/typist for the War Department at the newly constructed Pentagon in January 1942. Leaving Texas and her family behind, she took her first train ride to Washington and began her secretarial career. Wanting to do more for the war effort, she then enlisted in the United States Women's Army Corp. After completing her basic training at Daytona Beach, Florida, she was assigned to the Engineer School Headquarters at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. After the war she enrolled in Baylor University and graduated there in 1949 with a BA degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Bible. She later earned her Master's Degree in Education from Eastern New Mexico University in 1966. She moved to Carlsbad to begin her teaching career in 1949, at the Cottage Schools. She met and married Kenneth Nelson at First Baptist Church in 1950. Libby was a dedicated school teacher until her retirement in 1983. Her favorite teaching assignments were the lower elementary grades and giving her students a love of learning and reading. During those years she also served as the first principal at the Head Start program. Libby was a member of First Baptist Church in Carlsbad for 63 years. She was a dedicated children's Sunday School teacher, and later, adult Sunday School teacher for many years and was also active in WMU, Gideon's Auxiliary and other areas of service. Ken and Libby enjoyed living in Carlsbad, raising three daughters and being part of the community together for 60 years. Libby was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels and the Soup Kitchen. For the past four years she was residing in Marble Falls, Texas, enjoying being back in Texas, playing dominoes and visits from her great-grandchildren. She is welcomed home by her husband, Kenneth Nelson, parents K.K. and Eula Taylor, siblings Ellis Taylor, Frances Crumley and Edith Brockman, and nephew Kelbert Taylor. Libby was much loved and will be missed by her family. Deanna and Dr. Tom Cable of Corpus Christi, Texas, Cindy and Mike Bridges of Johnson City, Texas, Lisa and Tom Dillon of Artesia, New Mexico. Grandchildren Jessica and Scott Clements of Katy, Texas, Nelson and Laura Cable of Orange Park, Florida, Clayton and Renea Cable of South Korea, Kenneth Bridges of Castle Rock, Colorado, Libby and Alex Campbell of Dallas, Texas. Great-grandchildren Harrison and Colette Clements; Katelyn, Anne and Maggie Cable; and Kayla and Wyatt Cable. Serving as pallbearers are Nelson Cable, Clayton Cable, Kenneth Bridges, Scott Clements, Alex Campbell and Andrew Dillon. Memorial contributions may be made to Carlsbad Gideon Camp, P.O. Box 391, Carlsbad, NM 88221-0391 Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com