Nelda Leatrice Andrews
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GRANBURY — Nelda Leatrice Andrews passed away at her home on February 9, 2015 in Granbury, Texas.
Funeral: 2:30 p.m. Friday at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Acton. Burial: Acton Cemetery.
Nelda was born on April 4, 1930, to Delos Ray Harris and Lily Mae (Kight) Harris in Proctor, Texas. She attended elementary and junior high school in Proctor and graduated from Comanche High School in 1946 as the valedictorian. She then attended Tarleton Junior College for two years and transferred to the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. On September 24, 1949 she married Ernest Charles Andrews. Because he went in the army and was being transferred to Germany, she didn’t complete her degree in 1950. However, several years later she returned to school and earned her bachelor’s degree in 1965 from the University of Texas. She went on to earn her master’s degree in library science in 1967 from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio. In 1982 she earned another master’s degree in liberal arts from Southern Methodist University. She had a passion for archeology especially Biblical archeology.
Nelda worked as a research assistant while her husband was in medical school in Galveston. Later she worked as a math teacher in San Antonio ISD, a science librarian at San Antonio Junior College, a librarian at Weatherford College, a librarian at Northwood Institute in Duncanville, and a medical librarian at the new Whittaker Hospital in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Nelda was very active in civic organizations such as the Girl Scouts of America, PTA, Mental Health boards, medical auxiliaries, and church work. She has served as an officer in many organizations and presented programs especially for church women’s groups. Her cooking skills earned her a couple of culinary awards. She also compiled and published her favorite recipes in a cookbook.
She was always ready to travel and had visited over 35 countries in her lifetime often visiting The Netherlands where her daughter Charlotte and family lived for nearly 20 years. She often shared memories of her trips through slide show programs. Her favorite place though was Big Bend National Park. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, her parents, her sister Lily Croy, and her brother Ovid Harris.
Survivors: She is survived by her daughter Leatrice (Lea) Joy Bailey and husband John Wayne Bailey of Arlington, her daughter Charlotte Elaine Andrews of Granbury, six grandchildren, Laura and husband Carter Thomason of Mansfield, Aryan Dokht and wife Erica of Cypress, Tarlan and husband Arnoud Albada of The Netherlands, Ayeh Dokht of The Netherlands, Nobai Dokht of Austin, and Charles Bailey of Arlington. There are 5 great grandchildren with 2 more on the way, several cousins, nieces, and nephews as well.
Wiley Funeral Home
Granbury, 817-573-3000
