Shelley Nelson

Shortly after one a.m. on December 6th, God in His infinite mercy looked down on Shelley and said "You have suffered enough, My child." He took her home to be with Him for eternity in Heaven. Her family was at her side when she went to Glory.
Shelley was born, November 5th of 1952 in Sinton, Texas to Clarence and Polly Nelson. She was raised in Taft, Texas where she graduated high school in 1971. She went to college at both Del Mar college and Sam Houston State University. She graduated from Sam Houston in 1975 with a B.S. in Criminology.
January 1, 1976, Shelley began her career with The Texas Department of Human Services as a case worker in the Food Stamp office in Mathis, Texas. She worked faithfully for the state, retiring in January of 2004 as a Case Analyst for the South Texas Region.
In the fall of 1976, Shelley was introduced to a young man, Jim Schuman, by her best friend Linda. They enjoyed one another's company and thus began a relationship that lasted for more than 46 years. On April 25, 1987 they were united in marriage and only death broke this bond between them.
Shelley loved music and loved to play her guitar. Friends always added to an invitation to a get together by saying "Don't forget to bring your guitar." She and many of her friends were always getting together to
"jam."
Shelley's mission was to use her God given talent to entertain the older people of Rockport. She had weekly "Gigs" at Gulf Pointe Plaza, the Village and until it was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey, the nursing home on Young Street in Rockport. She and several of her friends loved to go and be a ray of sunshine for the people who lived there. She only stopped when her illness prevented her from going any more. It broke her heart when she became too weak to hold her guitar any longer.
Shelley would be the first to admit that she was not a cook. In fact, she referred to herself as the "Queen of the Three Ingredient Meal." If it took more than three ingredients, she wasn't cooking it. That being said, Shelley spent countless hours in the kitchen at First Baptist Church helping cook meals for the Wednesday evening dinners, feeding volunteers after Hurricane Harvey and for Rockport's Community Table. She became known by some as "Shelley with an E." She loved her church, First Baptist Church of Rockport and was loved by everyone who came in touch with her. The love expressed by our church family pulled us through these difficult times.
Shelley is survived by her loving husband, James Schuman, her faithful dog Tater, her best friend and "sister" Linda Balyeat, her brothers Ted (Veronica) Nelson of Portland, Texas, Chris (Misty) Nelson of Flour Bluff, Texas. Her in-laws, George and Doris Schuman of Lorain, Ohio, sister-in­law Diane Robinson of Wilmington, North Carolina. Brother-in-laws Larry (Kris) Schuman of Lorain, Ohio, Mark Schuman of Corpus Christi, Texas, Tom (Debbie) Schuman of Amherst, Ohio and John (Laura) Schuman of Elyria, Ohio. She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Polly Nelson of Taft, Texas and many other relatives
.A Celebration of Life will take place on January 21, 2023 at 2P.M. at The First Baptist Church of Rockport with Dr. Scott Jones officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to either The Pastoral Sabbatical Fund at First Baptist Church of Rockport or The South Texas Children's Home.

"Because My Savior loves me so - He will hold me fast."