Obituary for Missouri Lyerly Nelson
SALEM- After a full life and 99 well-lived years, Missouri (Mo) Lyerly Nelson passed away peacefully on October 18, 2022. Mo was born in Kentucky, one of five children, on November 2, 1922.
As a young child, her family moved to North Carolina. Her mother died when she was only 4 years old and Mo, along with three of her siblings, moved to Salem, VA to live at the Lutheran Orphan Home of the South. This became home for Mo during the “Great Depression” and she lived there until the age of 18. She graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in Salem. She accepted a scholorship to Roanoke College. After graduating from Roanoke College, she attended John Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD. After graduating from John Hopkins, earning a diploma in nursing, she became a cadet nurse in the Navy. After completing her service to her country, she moved back to Salem to work as a psychiatric nurse at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Salem.
Mo worked at the VA from 1950 to retirement in 1982. In 1952 she married James E. Nelson and between 1954 and 1959 had three children. Although Mo retired from the VA in 1982, she never stopped working. In additon to volunteering at Lewis-Gale, she was also a volunteer for the Red Cross, Brandon Oaks Retirement Community, and her church, Saint Mark’s Lutheran in Roanoke. Mo received the Charles R. Brown Award from Roanoke College, which recognizes individuals who contributte to the quality of life in Salem. She also earned the Lewis Gale Pineapple award, the Frist Humanitarian award, and the Paul Harris Fellow recognition for her contribution to The Rotary Foundation.
In addition to volunteering, Mo loved to travel in the United States and abroad. She loved classical music, the opera, and reading. Mo always believed that all of us need to,”do something for someone else.” Mo faced the challenges in life, she rose above them, and had a positive impact on the many lives she touched.
Mo was preceded in death by her husband and her four siblings. She is survived by her children, Annemarie and her husband Mark Couture of Cramerton, NC, Jane McDaniel of Roanoke, VA, and Duane Nelson of Charleston, SC; grandchildren, James McDaniel and wife, Ashley; Sara Aylor and husband, Ian; Bradford McDaniel and wife, Lauren; and Emily Reed and husband, Crenshaw; all of Roanoke, VA, and 8 great-grandchildren; also special friends Jerry McDaniel, and Phyllis Bateman.
A memorial service to celebrate Mo’s life will be held at Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church on Saturday, November 5 at 2:00 pm. Family will receive friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the Nelson Family has requested that memorials be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1008 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24016.
John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem is serving the Nelson family. An online guestbook is available for family and friends by visiting www.johnmoakey.com
As a young child, her family moved to North Carolina. Her mother died when she was only 4 years old and Mo, along with three of her siblings, moved to Salem, VA to live at the Lutheran Orphan Home of the South. This became home for Mo during the “Great Depression” and she lived there until the age of 18. She graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in Salem. She accepted a scholorship to Roanoke College. After graduating from Roanoke College, she attended John Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD. After graduating from John Hopkins, earning a diploma in nursing, she became a cadet nurse in the Navy. After completing her service to her country, she moved back to Salem to work as a psychiatric nurse at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Salem.
Mo worked at the VA from 1950 to retirement in 1982. In 1952 she married James E. Nelson and between 1954 and 1959 had three children. Although Mo retired from the VA in 1982, she never stopped working. In additon to volunteering at Lewis-Gale, she was also a volunteer for the Red Cross, Brandon Oaks Retirement Community, and her church, Saint Mark’s Lutheran in Roanoke. Mo received the Charles R. Brown Award from Roanoke College, which recognizes individuals who contributte to the quality of life in Salem. She also earned the Lewis Gale Pineapple award, the Frist Humanitarian award, and the Paul Harris Fellow recognition for her contribution to The Rotary Foundation.
In addition to volunteering, Mo loved to travel in the United States and abroad. She loved classical music, the opera, and reading. Mo always believed that all of us need to,”do something for someone else.” Mo faced the challenges in life, she rose above them, and had a positive impact on the many lives she touched.
Mo was preceded in death by her husband and her four siblings. She is survived by her children, Annemarie and her husband Mark Couture of Cramerton, NC, Jane McDaniel of Roanoke, VA, and Duane Nelson of Charleston, SC; grandchildren, James McDaniel and wife, Ashley; Sara Aylor and husband, Ian; Bradford McDaniel and wife, Lauren; and Emily Reed and husband, Crenshaw; all of Roanoke, VA, and 8 great-grandchildren; also special friends Jerry McDaniel, and Phyllis Bateman.
A memorial service to celebrate Mo’s life will be held at Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church on Saturday, November 5 at 2:00 pm. Family will receive friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the Nelson Family has requested that memorials be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1008 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24016.
John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem is serving the Nelson family. An online guestbook is available for family and friends by visiting www.johnmoakey.com