Peggy Ann Nelson

Peggy Ann Lewis Nelson, age 84, of Las Cruces, New Mexico passed away surrounded by her family on Tuesday April 30, 2024. Peggy was born March 19, 1940, in Las Vegas, New Mexico to Earl and Pansy Lewis.

Peggy spent her childhood in Albuquerque, New Mexico growing up alongside her lifelong best friend Carroll Brannon. Carroll and Peggy’s, many adventures became the source of stories for years to come. In 1958 Peggy graduated from Highland High School. She also competed and was crowned Miss Albuquerque.

Peggy attended college at University of New Mexico and was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. In 1962, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dramatic Arts with a certification in Education. Peggy’s first teaching position was as a Language Arts/ English teacher at Gadsden High School in Anthony, New Mexico.

Shortly after she began teaching, Peggy met the love of her life, Walter R. Nelson. Peggy and Walter were married May 2, 1964, at St. Mark's-on-the-Mesa Episcopal Church in Albuquerque, NM. Peggy and Walter celebrated over 51 years of marriage together before Walter passed away in 2015.

Peggy and Walter moved to Las Cruces in 1968, where Peggy taught English at Las Cruces High School. Peggy and Walter built their family home and started a pecan farm north of Las Cruces.

In 1969, Peggy’s first daughter was born. She took a fifteen-year hiatus from teaching to raise her daughters: Stacey, Brenda, and Karen. Peggy was a loving devoted mother who instilled her most important values of being independent and strong thinkers in her daughters. The daughters in turn passed those same values on to their own children. Peggy loved all living creatures and taught her daughters to do the same. She provided her daughters a very happy childhood on the pecan farm where they learned to raise many pets, hatch tadpoles and dance for the rain to come.

Peggy returned to teaching in 1982, first at night school at Mayfield High School. In 1983 she accepted a full-time teaching position at Deming High School where she taught Language Arts, AP English, and Mythology. She loved teaching and cared deeply about each of her students. After over 21 years of teaching, Peggy retired in 2004.

To say Peggy kept busy in retirement is an understatement. Retirement was a time for activity and new adventures. She was an active member in the Las Cruces community. Peggy and Walter nurtured their amazing gardens every summer, a tradition she continued after Walter passed away. Peggy sang in the NMSU Master Works choir for many years. She was a very active member in the Las Cruces Association of Educational Retirees as well as many other local organizations. Peggy was an avid supporter of the New Mexico State University athletic program. A season ticket holder for both basketball and football, she was often seen with her friends cheering on her favorite teams. Peggy enjoyed many hobbies including aqua aerobic therapy classes. She developed a love for travel and loved taking trips with her family where they visited Ireland, Italy, France, England, and Hawaii.

Peggy was dedicated to her daughters and grandchildren throughout her life. She was her family’s biggest supporter always making sure they knew how much she cared about each of them.

Peggy is preceded in death by her husband Walter, parents Earl and Pansy Lewis, sister Laura Mae Lewis Thalman and granddaughter Melissa Donart. Peggy is survived by her daughter Stacey her husband Shane Donart, daughter Brenda and her husband Mark, daughter Karen and her husband Todd. She is also survived by her 7 grandchildren: Megan, Mikayla, Madison, Abigail, Nathan, Hailey, and Kimberly.

A Celebration of Life service to honor Peggy will be held on May 25, 2024, at 10 am at Getz Funeral Home, 1410 E. BOWMAN AVE. LAS CRUCES, NM 88001-3001 Phone: (575) 526-2419.

Peggy loved all animals, in lieu of flowers, please donate to Catopia Cat Café https://www.catopiacatcafe.com/ 8001 Wyoming Blvd NE, Suite C-5, Albuquerque, NM 87113 505-508-4278, CatopiaCafe@gmail.com