Obituary of Carolyn Ann Nelson

Memorial Service Saturday, Sep 16, 2017 11:00 AM Carolyn Ann Nelson December 16, 1942 - August 29, 2017 Carolyn Ann Nelson, 74, passed away in her La Porte, Texas, home on August 29, 2017. Visitation with the family will be at Paul U. Lee Funeral Home in La Porte from 10:00 am until 11:00 am on Saturday, September 16, 2017, with services immediately following. Carolyn was born in Pasadena, Texas, on December 16, 1942, to Rex and Evelyn Kemper. She grew up in La Porte and raised her own family in the same city. Carolyn graduated from La Porte High School in 1961. She was a homemaker before becoming her girls’ primary provider in the early seventies. Carolyn began her professional life with IBM Federal Systems in 1973. She held positions in Technical Publications, administrative services and management before moving on to Lockheed-Martin in 1996. Carolyn worked on multi-year NASA contracts throughout her career. In the last decades of her employment, she performed software configuration management for the Johnson Space Center. The resulting software ran on computers at JSC's Mission Control Center, supporting both the Space Shuttle program and the International Space Station. Carolyn had a quiet but effective leadership style. Her outstanding performance and contributions were recognized on numerous occasions. She earned the respect of customers, managers, peers, and subordinates alike. Carolyn often spoke kindly of her work family, and they considered her irreplaceable on her retirement in 2010. Carolyn is survived by her brother, Gary Kemper, and his wife, Carol, of Deer Park, Texas, and by her daughters: Lisa Nelson of Austin, Texas, Lori Hofler and her husband, Don, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Libby Hopper and her husband, Ken, of La Porte. Survivors also include five grandchildren: Lindsey Parker and her husband, Matt, Nicholas Markland and his wife, Laura, Jessica Hopper, Christopher Prickett and Scott Mayfield. She is also “Gran” to great-grandchildren, Liam and Leah Markland. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents and granddaughter, Gabrielle Prickett. Carolyn devoted her life to God and family. She was a member of Parkview Church of Christ of Pasadena, Texas. She was a loving daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother. She was a caring aunt to Carrie Allen, her husband, Ricky, and their sons, Jacob and Connor, and to Michael Kemper, his wife, Mary, and their daughters, Marin and Stella. Carolyn was also a dear friend who cherished bonds established in early childhood until her passing. Carolyn enjoyed reading novels and cross-stitching in her spare time. She became an avid Houston Astros fan in her retirement years.