Maudie McClure Nelson

Maudie has closed this earthly chapter of her life on earth and has gone to her heavenly home, Monday, June 27, 2011 to meet her Father there. What a welcome she will receive from the heavenly family that preceded her. She will be remembered for her kindness to all that she met, her generosity to anyone she knew who needed a helping hand or just a shoulder to lean on sometimes. She will also be remembered for her contagious laughter and sense of humor; her faith in and love of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior. She faced life with joy in happy times and in times of dread with courage and strength. She was a member of Landmark Baptist Church in Carlsbad. Maudie was born to Lee and Sybil (Sweeten) McClure on December 12, 1930 in Sulphur, Oklahoma. She spent her childhood there, attending Cameron Elementary and Sulphur High School. She was a good student and participated in Chorus and played Softball and enjoyed many school friends. In her adult life she married, A. W. Nelson of Sulphur and they moved to Texas and then to New Mexico where they remained to this day. Maudie was a salesperson for Marsha's Dress Shop in Artesia for several years; she managed Cooper's Western Wear in Carlsbad as well as working many years for Carlsbad National Historical Association, where she spent many enjoyable hours building up a successful book store at the Caverns. She published a book about the park and a CD among the many contributions she made for the Park Service. She enjoyed meeting all the visitors who stopped by the Caverns. She also enjoyed travel and made many trips to California and other states to include Hawaii and Canada. She also traveled in Europe visiting several countries. She was an active member of the Artesia chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority serving as the Valentine Sweetheart and other duties. She was a beautiful and talented woman; enjoyed painting and crafting; was a member of Carlsbad Art Association and an avid collector of Indian crafts and history. She was of Cherokee descent and came from an old family who settled in this country in the late 1700's; migrating to the west and on into the Indian Territory in the early 1800's. Maudie leaves behind a daughter, Tonya Sharee Nelson; a grandson, Jeramie Lee Nelson; one great-grandson, Amaury Gonzalez Nelson all of Carlsbad, NM; one sister and brother-in-law, Woody and Quannah McClure Davis of Ardmore, Oklahoma; two nieces: Quannah and Bob Bartunek of Vancouver, Washington, Patti and Fred Jackson of Ardmore, Oklahoma; on grand-niece, Melissa and Stephen Morris of Atlanta, Georgia; a great-grand-niece and nephew, Anthony and Madelyn of Atlanta, Georgia; great-grand-niece and nephew, Tim and Lexi of Washington. She was preceded in death by her husband, A. W. Nelson in 2001. She leaves behind also her beloved doggie-babies, Tipper, Tinker-Bell, Pandie, Gizmo and Ciria who were great joys to her. She always held her family in high esteem, she was a kind and honorable woman and she will be sorely missed. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM, at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, June 29, 2011, 2:00 PM, at Lakeview Christian Home with Chaplain Terry McKean officiating. Interment will follow in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.