Betty Jo Nelson of Brownwood, age 88, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2024. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 20 at Heartland Funeral Home in Early, Texas.

Betty, a Brownwood native, graduated from Brownwood High School about 1954. She attended college at SMU, where she pledged Delta Delta Delta. She later attended Texas Tech, and graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from Lamar State College in 1959.

Betty married Allen Nelson in 1958, and they had three sons. The couple lived in Dallas where she worked as a Legal Assistant for Strasburger & Price. Betty and Allen then returned to Brownwood after retirement. Betty was a member of the First Methodist Church of Brownwood. Betty enjoyed the companionship of her many friends and acquaintances here locally, and enjoyed playing bridge and participating in social events. Betty was an accomplished traveler, having journeyed to locations in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Betty was an accomplished needle pointer, having won ribbons at the State Fair of Texas. Betty also enjoyed collecting dolls and figurines and other similar items.

Betty is survived by two sons, Richard Nelson of Spring, Texas and Joe Nelson of Brownwood, and their spouses; her one granddaughter, Sarah Nelson of Spring, TX; her sister, Ann Willard of Brownwood; two sisters-in-law, Sue Gibson and Nan Nelson; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband Allen Nelson; son, Lee Nelson; and brother-in-law, Foster Nelson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Corinne T. Smith Animal Center @ https://browncountyhumanes.wixsite.com/website/copy-of-home