Lottie Pearl Nelson Garza, 95, of Lacy Lakeview, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Sunday, March 20, 2022, at her home, surrounded by her family.
Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel. Click Here to View the Live Stream of the Service
Burial: Bold Springs Cemetery.
Visitation: 5-8 p.m Friday, March 25 at Lake Shore Funeral Home.
Pearl was born September 2, 1926, to Daniel Robert “D.R.” Nelson and Mamie Moyers Nelson on the family dairy farm in Corsicana, Texas. Pearl was the 7th child out of 10 born to her parents. Pearl attended school in Emhouse, growing up where she enjoyed playing basketball and graduated from Emhouse High School with the class of 1943.
Pearl met the love of her life, Paul Garza, shortly after high school and they were married on June 22, 1945. Their marriage and love for one another was something very special. Together, they had two beautiful daughters and shared 67 wonderful years together before Paul’s passing in 2012.
Pearl was a member of “The Greatest Generation” and that was never more evident than in her work ethic. She was cut from a different cloth and was truly one of the hardest working women around. She began her professional career in the mid 1940’s as a telephone operator with Bell Telephone Company. She continued her career as a switch counter, among other roles with the telephone company and in 1960, she began a job with The Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo that would quickly become her “career of a lifetime.” You can’t mention the HOT Fair without mentioning “Miss Pearl’s” name. Her first job at the Fairgrounds was the night shift answering the switchboard during fair time. She went on to work in the ticket office where she worked selling tickets and was the official “Rodeo Queen” until 2017. In total, she worked at the fairgrounds for a whopping 57 years and enjoyed every minute spent with her fair family.
Her strong work ethic was exemplified in other areas of her life as well. She was an avid volunteer within the school system while her two daughters were growing up. She volunteered as room mother, band booster and PTA member and was awarded a Lifetime Membership for her many hours of service to the PTA. Pearl could even be found volunteering well into her 90’s with the PTA at her great-granddaughter’s school in Arlington.
Pearl had many hobbies and passions that she enjoyed throughout her life. She enjoyed sewing and beading and made countless Christmas stockings for her family. She was an avid sports fan, especially when her Texas Aggies or Dallas Cowboys were playing. She and her husband enjoyed camping and taking their Airstream trailer on countless road trips over the years. Family was everything to Pearl and she was never happier than when she was surrounded by her loved ones.
She was a devoted Christian woman and her church family was extremely important to her as well. She attended Northside Church of Christ for many years where she worked in the nursery, taught Sunday School, helped with VBS and worked with the Women’s Ministry. She and her husband also traveled to Jamaica on several mission trips together with the church.
Whether you knew her as Pearl, Miss Pearl, Aunt Pearl, Pearlie, Momma or GG – to know her was to love her and be loved by her, unconditionally. She was the matriarch of our family and a friend to so very many and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Pearl is proceeded in death by her parents; her husband of 67 years, Paul Garza; an infant son, Leonard Paul Garza III; siblings, Robert Nelson, James Nelson, John Nelson, Josephine Bebout, Ethel Nelson, Billy Nelson, Paul Nelson, Charles Nelson and Wade Nelson.
She is survived by her two daughters, Charlotte Taylor and husband Darryl of Arlington, Marsha Seale and husband Donald of Colorado Springs, CO; four granddaughters, Lylah Taylor of College Station, Kelsey Seale Madsen and husband Thomas of Mercer, PA., Neely Taylor of Arlington and Lesley Seale of Anchorage, AK; and 3 great-grandchildren, Aurora Reyes of Arlington, James and Laura Madsen of Mercer, PA; countless nieces and nephews and very close family friends, Mike Murphy and Lynn Pearson.
The family would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Bluebonnet Hospice and Right At Home Central Texas for the loving and compassionate care provided to Pearl by Tamara, Dayshia, Tysha, Gabby, Laurie, Jennifer, Kim, Jessica and Chaplain Monte. Your kindness will never be forgotten.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be sent to Northside Church of Christ, 2500 Parrish Street, Waco, Texas 76705. These donations will help to spread God’s word in our community and throughout the world.
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
Print Obituary & Condolences
Dear Charlotte Taylor and Family,
We are so very sorry for your loss of you mom, Pearl Garza. It was a privilege and an honor for us to care for her.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers and may you receive comfort in the days moving forward.
Sincerely,
Bluebonnet Health (Hospice) Services
Charlotte and Family,
We Wish You and Everyone the Very Best.
May all Our Prayers and Your Memories bring Comfort and Peace.
Rachel ad David Carrizales
Dear Charlotte and Marsha, We are so sorry for your loss. We will always remember her sweet smile and will never forget our special “Santa and Mrs. Claus.” Prayers for everyone so they might find peace and much needed comfort during this time. God bless you and your families.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Pearl was such a beautiful soul. She was always encouraging and had a smile on her face. She will be dearly missed. Love, Susan and John Powell
My heart and prayers are with all the family. I can truly say that Mama Pearl was a person that influenced my life and showed me what unconditional love was all about. God sent her into my life while I was at Connally High School where I was best friends with her daughter Marsha. She gave me guidance, humor, rules to live by, but most of all she gave me hugs where needed and all the love that got me through some difficult times. Love Donna Murphree Pedigo
Pearl and Paul were both special friends. Bill and I had many fun trips with them and made good memories. Pearl will be truly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Love Betty Crockett
Such a sweet, Christian lady! Her passing leaves a hole that won’t be filled.
LaFon Commander
Lafon2red@aol.com
Charlotte, Marsha, and Family,
Shela and I loved and appreciated your mom and dad so much. He has been sorely missed and now we’ll be missing your mom. Great people, great Christians–enjoyable to be around. A truer obituary couldn’t have been written. Praying for you!
Larry Havard
Aunt Pearl, you were so special to us. Your love for Byrdie, my mom, was priceless. She considered you a sister, not in-law. We will miss you dearly! God bless this wonderful family of Nelson’s.
Sending my love and prayers for the entire family! It was a blessing to get to meet GG!
Sending our love and prayers to the whole family!
Ms. Pearl was such a special lady! She will be missed and remembered fondly!
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Mrs. Garza. I can still remember way back when of how supportive she was of us girls when we were playing basketball in junior high, and high school at Connally. I know I haven’t seen your family in almost 50 years, but I’ll never forget of how sweet the Garza family was to me when I was in school. I would like to extend my utmost sincere condolences to the entire Garza family: Marsha & Charlotte. I pray that your entire family find peace and comfort for the many days ahead.
Love You and God Bless All ~Joyce (Walker) Black
We are so sorry to hear of Ms. Pearl’s passing. She was a big part of the Dollens’ Family. She always had a smile at the HOT Rodeo and Fair time running that switchboard. All the Dollens enjoyed seeing her every year and will also miss her. We have many wonderful memories of Ms. Pearl. We send our prayers to heaven for your loss and pray for this time of your grieving, you will know she is in the hands of God. Peace be with you all.
God bless you and keep you,
The Leon Dollens Family