March 7, 1929 – Feb. 16, 2024

Nelda Louise (nee Collins) was born on March 7, 1929, and was reunited with her husband and daughter in heaven on Feb. 16, 2024.

Nelda graduated as valedictorian from Somerset High School, worked her way through college to earn her bachelor’s degree in education from Texas A&I University-Kingsville and a master’s degree in counseling from University of Texas-San Antonio.

Following graduation from A&I, Nelda came to Boerne to teach. Walking down Main Street to and from work daily, she caught the eye of the most eligible bachelor in town, John Eddie .

They were married Dec. 24, 1951, and were devoted to each other until his death 69 years later.

One of her greatest accomplishments was putting up with his antics all those years. They raised five kids, instilling in them faith, strong work ethics, and kindness to others.

Mama’s love for each and every family member was strong and unconditional. She saw the positive and made the best of every situation.

It was important to her for the family to gather for holidays, birthdays and reunions. Holding babies, with her graceful, loving hands, was the highlight of her days.

Nelda was sweet, kind and thoughtful to everyone. It was important to her that all felt seen and cared about. She spent her entire life serving others.

For 20 years, she taught sixth and third grades and was an elementary school counselor. Contributing to the community, she loved her 20 summers teaching Red Cross Swimming lessons.

She also volunteered and frequently was president of many organizations in Boerne: PTA, Girl Scouts, Sunday School, VBS, St. Helena’s Alter Guild (25 years), Church Women United, American Business Women, Boerne Area Historical Preservation Society, Genealogical Society of Kendall County, Kendall County Republican Women, Texas and Kendall County Retired Teachers Associations, ACS driver for cancer patients, and Can-Can dancer for the first Boerne Little Theater.

She enjoyed researching her ancestry and was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Mama was a worker, slow and steady, humming as she worked. She did everything from working side-by-side with Daddy pulling sunflowers to make the hayfield and auguring grain to fatten calves, to late night sewing of costumes for four daughters in Hermann Sons dance recitals.

Mama loved tending to her flower beds and could magically cultivate any cutting. She enjoyed rebuilding decades-old rock fences and lopping cedars at their Kendalia ranch much more than doing inside chores. But she appreciated a clean house and shiny, streak-free windows, too.

As the mother of young children, she looked forward to challenging her mind learning to play Bridge, which she continued to play into her 90s.

In her retirement years, she became an avid reader of crime novels and murder mysteries and was obsessed with tracking her genealogy.

Mama and Daddy treasured their opportunities to travel, seeing most of North America, several countries of South and Central America, Europe, Russia, Australia and New Zealand. They seldom participated in organized tours but preferred striking out through areas on their own, always meeting interesting locals.

Nelda was preceded in death by her parents, Ethel Harvey Collins White (Earl) and Leo Collins (Eloise); husband, John Eddie ; daughter, Georgia Lee Creamier; brothers, Carlton Collins (Rose Lee), Billy Don Collins (Jackie), Eddy Ray Collins, and Jerry Collins; sister, Lynn Collins; brother-in-law, Pat Patterson; son-in-law, Dan Minster; and grandson-in-law, Rocky Chacon.

Nelda is survived by one son, Eddie (Kim), three daughters, Becky Minster, Wendy Smith (Severne), and Brenda Edwards (Rick); son-in-law Allan Creamier (Carla); siblings Jimmie Nell Patterson, Jeanne Diamond (Rodney), Sharon Graham, Ira Collins (Susan), Francie Collins (Mary-Ann), and Kenny Collins (Rachel); sister-in-law Judy Collins; grandchildren John “Deuce” (Olga), Elise Chacon, Aris Stephens (Danny), Emily McCorkle (Kevin), September James (Tim), Cindy Ricketts (Brian), Chris Harthcock, and Jessica Chilcoat (Blake); and eighteen great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

The family is most grateful to Veronica and Irene of Methodist Hill Country Hospice for their loving care in her final weeks.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Boerne EMS, Boerne Volunteer Fire Department or the Genealogical Society of Kendall County.

Visitation will be held at Ebensberger Fisher Funeral Home on Feb. 22, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Ebensberger Fisher on Feb. 23, 2023, at 4 p.m.

To leave condolences for the family and view a video of Nelda’s’ life, please visit: www.ebensberger-fisher.com.

Arrangements with Ebensberger Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne.