Eleanor "Nell" Wilson

Flowers, rainbows, sunsets, and of course her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were the greatest joys in the life of Eleanor Joyce Wax "Nell" Wilson, who found her way home last Saturday, January 12th. Nell flourished as the ardent wife to Robert James Wilson, Sr, and as the steadfast matriarch of her family. She raised five children, Mary Allison (husband John), Robert James "Jim" Wilson, Jr, Doris "Lynn" Wilson (who predeceased her mother), Patricia "Pattye" Lassiter (husband Jack), and Louis Gordon Wilson (wife Jolene); helped rear another ten grandchildren, Amy Allison (wife Lesa), Wilson Allison (wife Beth), Thomas Cole (wife Renee), Robert Cole (wife Alex), Ellie Lassiter, April Lassiter, Jewell Wilson (wife Colleen), Louis A. Wilson, Brendan Wilson, and Parke Wilson; and doted on five great-grandchildren, Abby and Claire Allison, Easton White, Stella Cole, and Kennedy Cole. These individuals were the grandest results of her life's work, because first and foremost, she saw herself as a mom to anyone she could call her own. Nell died just two weeks shy of her 92nd birthday and gracefully returned to her husband, who passed away in last July. The third and last child of Mary Eleanor Posey Wax and Louis Anthony Wax Sr., Nell was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on January 27th, 1927. Her two siblings, Louis Anthony Wax, Jr, (wife Francene), and Doris Eleanor Wax Hill, or "Aunt T," (husband Harry) both predeceased her. She grew up in Woodville, Mississippi, and then attended Louisiana State University, where she enrolled to become a schoolteacher. She met Bob at LSU and married him in 1948. She notoriously hated Arkansas summers, so it must have been true love for her, because she committed herself to blistering summer after summer in either Little Rock, on Lake Ouachita, or in then-rural, western Pulaski County, and thus, began a marriage that lasted over seventy years. Her life was rich and adventurous: though a little girl from the delta, Nell created a huge family, forged a marvelous network of friends, and traveled to wonderful places all over the US, Canada, and Europe. To those who knew Nell, she belonged in a class of her own, for her quiet grace, fierce love, and eager kindness had no equals. She was a nurturer by nature. While her husband, Bob, was the garrulous and quintessential Romeo, Nell acted as the glue that connected everyone and everything together for her family. She taught all her family that you never let the sun set on a quarrel, you cannot un-say anything, getting old wasn't for sissies, and you never go to bed with a dirty kitchen. When she was not feeding you her spaghetti or roast beef or sharing a shrimp cocktail and "tini" with you, she was holding your hand and having a nice visit with you. She enjoyed good family time above all. To her family, she was Mamaw, Memaw, Mawmaw, Memes, Memesies, and countless other spellings. She lost herself in the love of others. She emoted kindness always and desired to comfort others always. We will miss her tenderness and care, her short but sweet phone calls, her laugh, and the trips so many of us took with her to Wye Mountain so she could see the jonquils. Our family would like to thank the nurses, caregivers, and staff at Foxridge, Hospice Home Care, and First Choice Senior Care. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Back Pack Program at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church (20900 Chenal Pkwy, Little Rock, Ar. 72223). This program provides food to children who experience food insecurity. Make checks payable to "St. Margaret's Episcopal Church" and in the memo line include "Back Pack/Outreach/Nell Wilson." Quoting her favorite hymn, we gladly ask for friends to "come and sing the song with gladness as your hearts are filled with joy" at a reception to celebrate Nell that will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home (6313 W Markham St.) on Monday, January 21st, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In her rest, Nell rejoins her parents, friends and family members, and especially her husband, Bob, and daughter, Lynnie (d. 2002). Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.