Nelda Simmons
Nelda Simmons
Age 86
Nelda was born in East Texas in 1925 and her family moved to Dallas when she was 6 months old. She grew up in Dallas and continued to live there until she was 29 years old. After high school she went to work as a secretary. During the war, from 1942 - 44, she worked for the War Manpower Commission. She also worked at Minneapolis Moline, a farm machinery company, and for Proctor and Gamble. The man she married grew up in the same neighborhood and was 3 years older. He went to work in Sales for Minneapolis Moline (later White Farm Machinery). They were married after the war in 1946 when Nelda was 21. She had a baby girl in 1948. In 1953 her husband was transferred to Abilene and two weeks after moving there she had a son.
Nelda and her husband lived in Abilene for 20 years, which allowed her children to grow up there and go through college. Then, in 1973 they were transferred to Houston, where they bought a townhouse near Kirkwood and Memorial. Her husband died in 1977 at the age of 56.
After her husband died, at age 52, Nelda went back to work as a secretary. Initially she was a "Kelly Girl", but then was hired by Daniel Industries on a part-time basis for 12 years. This allowed her time to visit her grandchildren. Her children had married and initially were in Corpus Christi. Now her daughter lives in Dallas and has 3 sons. Nelda's son lives in Graham, Texas, and also has 3 children: a son in college and 2 daughters, one of whom is a lawyer in Houston. She also has one great grandchild in Austin.
In 1989 Nelda married Allen Beavers, who was retiring as a vice president of Houston Lighting & Power. They joined Grace Presbyterian Church. During their marriage, Nelda and Allen were close friends with Gene and Daphne Simmons, who lived at the Hallmark. Gene had been Allen's good friend at HL&P. Gene's wife, Daphne, died in 2000, but Nelda and Allen remained close to Gene and his circle of friends. Unfortunately, Allen died in 2002, at age 80, after 13 years of marriage to Nelda. Some months after Allen died, Gene began spending more time with Nelda. He was very attentive when Nelda had a week-long stay in the hospital in early 2003. They continued to see each other, decided to marry in May, 2003, and Nelda moved into the Hallmark with Gene. Gene was born in Louisiana and went to Rice Univ. Nelda continued to attend Grace Presbyterian Church. Sadly, Gene died in 2004 at age 78 after only one year of marriage.
Nelda is now a member of St. Phillip Presbyterian Church very close to the Hallmark. She has always walked for exercise and still walks regularly. She also participates in a line dancing class. She drives to visit friends and remains active with friends around Houston, and especially at the Hallmark. She goes out for lunch regularly and once or twice a year gets together with her former line dancing classmates on the west side of Houston.
Nelda has a very positive attitude and is grateful for having such a wonderful family.
