Mary Ellen Nelson

Mary Ellen Nelson, 81, of Morganton went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 after a short illness.  Born in Shelby County, TN on January 30, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Walter Edward Mischke and Mary Frances Covington Mischke.

Mary Ellen was an active member of Salem United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school and participated in UMW.  Traveling, shopping, quilting, making personal cards for friends and family, and attending shows at CoMMA were some of her favorite activities.  Mary Ellen was devoted to her two pets, Tori (cat) and Grayson (dog), which she leaves behind with family.

Mrs. Nelson is survived by her children, Liz Boyd Oliver (Bobby) of Morganton, Becky Boyd Smykowski (John) of Gastonia, NC, and C. Anderson Boyd, Jr. (Karen) of Memphis, TN; step-son, Todd Nelson (Mary) of Olympia, WA; step-daughters-in-law, Joanne Nelson of Monrovia, CA and Ava Nelson of St. Augustine, FL; grandchildren, Zane Oliver, Dakota Oliver, Matthew Smykowski, Ellen Smykowski, Alexandra Boyd, Allison Hoskin Robertson, Brandon Robertson, Austin Hoskin, Jayme Wiggins, and Wilbur Nelson; great-grandchildren, Addison Robertson and Aspen Hoskin; two nephews; a niece; and a large extended family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband and father of her 3 children, C. A. Boyd; second husband, Wilbur O. Nelson, USMC Ret., step-son, Spencer Nelson; granddaughter, Nicole Nelson; and sister-in-law, Joann Mischke.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 5 p.m., Saturday, August 4, 2018 at Salem United Methodist Church.  The funeral will be held at 5 p.m. with Rev. Norman Jones officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Salem United Methodist Church, 1206 Salem Road, Morganton, NC 28655, Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690, or to Cat’s Cradle, P.O. Box 1915, Morganton, NC 28680.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.