On Thursday, July 22, 2021, Heaven gained another angel, Thelma Doris (Stokley) Gaulden, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother at the young age of 90. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, July 31, 2021 at Heartland Funeral Home with Pastor Jeff Hoskinson officiating.
Thelma was born April 7, 1931 in Toomsuba, Mississippi to Charlie Stokley and Betty Gray. Betty passed away when Thelma was very young and she was blessed with a wonderful stepmother, Cora Stokley, that raised her. Thelma went to school in Meridian, Mississippi and married Cleve Nelson on June 10, 1950 and they were blessed with five children. Thelma attended the School of Vocational Nursing in Kermit, Texas and worked at the hospital in Kermit briefly before moving to Brownwood and working as an LVN. Thelma served as Director of Nurses at numerous nursing homes in Brownwood, Bangs and surrounding counties. Thelma truly loved being a nurse. She enjoyed bringing love, compassion and care to many people and their loved ones. She put her heart and soul into caring for others. Thelma went the extra mile working 16 hour shifts many days of a week her entire career. To balance career and family, Thelma’s granddaughter, Doris would often be seen as her little shadow during her shifts, just to spend time together and it joined her two worlds. Nothing stopped her from being where she was needed. She touched the lives of so many. Thelma reluctantly retired after 42 years. Thelma became a temporary patient in a nursing home around January. To prove she hadn’t fully given up the nurse’s hat and uniform, she roamed the halls in her wheelchair talking to other patients as she always had and even dropped by the administrator’s office to offer her assistance, knowledge and experience. It made her feel needed and energized her spirit. Thanks to the staff for making a retired nurse have purpose again. Thelma enjoyed dancing, canning, cooking and spending time with her pets, watching the news and the Golden Girls. She would crochet aprons and oven towels and carry them to her doctors, nurses and loved ones to show her love and appreciation. Thelma loved her kids, grands, great grands and great-great grandchildren, they were her essence and carry her legacy.
Thelma is survived by her daughter, Sandra Nelson; sons, Greg Nelson and wife Wanda, Rodney Nelson and wife, Kim & Charles Nelson; grandchildren, Candace Spurger and husband Doug, Doris Caussey, Shane Nelson, Crystal Scott, Shannon Nelson, Shauna Wilker, Marcus Nelson, Jamie Nelson-Hart and husband Arin, Kyle Nelson, Aaron Nelson; great grandchildren, Misty Nelson Cross and husband David, Jessica Tomme and husband Jeremy, Ashley Bruton, Nicki Scott and husband Gilbert Salas, Marissa Ramirez, Hayden Hammond, CJ Scott, Colby Nelson, Joshua Gonzalez, Alex Gonzalez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Sophia Nelson, Ana Velez, and Gavin Nelson; 17 great-great grandchildren; brother, Calvin Stokley; and many nieces, nephews and close friends.
Thelma was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Cleve Nelson; daughter, Becky Daughrity; grandson, Lucky Nelson; her parents, Charlie, Betty and Cora; brothers, Adrian, RW, Franklin, James, Nioin and Parker.
Online condolences, tributes and memorials can be shared with family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net.
