Velia "Vegie" Moore

Velia Nelson Moore, 79, of Copperas Cove, passed away on Saturday, September 17, 2022.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas. Visitation will be held from 12:00 - 1:00 pm, on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at Viss Family Funeral Home, 1614 S FM 116, Copperas Cove, Texas 76522.

Velia Vasco Nelson was born to Vera Alaine Davis and Crofford Besseni Nelson on Thursday, June 17, 1943, at Lisenby Hospital in Panama City, Florida. She was raised on the sands of the Gulf Coast alongside four brothers and two sisters, who together created childhood memories that Velia cherished her whole life. Throughout her lifetime, she was devoted to the love of Christ. She was saved at the age of twelve and habitually attended and was active in Diergo Park Assembly of God when she was young. Her school years were spent at Highland Park Elementary, Everett Junior High School, and Bay High. After graduating, Velia enrolled in clerical and advanced office management classes at Gulf Coast Community College and worked at Broward Hall Insurance in Panama City.

One day, during the time period after high school and far from Velia’s awareness, an Army soldier at basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina named Thomas Moore spied a photo in a fellow soldier’s wall locker and fell in love. The fellow soldier was Velia’s brother, Eddie, and the photo was a senior portrait of Velia (now known as Vegie to those who knew her). After a lengthy, letter-writing correspondence and a quick courtship, Tom and Vegie were married on Monday, August 2, 1965, in Panama City, Florida, after which she legally changed her name to Velia Nelson Moore.

As newlyweds, the pair soon grew accustomed to the roving lifestyle of a military couple. While stationed in Germany, Vegie worked as a teller with American Express. Back in the states, she and Tom lived in Fayetteville, North Carolina then, after Tom was discharged from active duty, they moved to Louisville, Kentucky and then Marengo, Indiana. While living there, Vegie worked as a book clerk at the bookstore at Indiana University South East.

In 1974, Velia and Tom welcomed their first son, Nelson Daly. Then two years later, in 1976, they added their youngest son, Shawn Alan, to the family. Vegie was a devoted mother. She acted as a chaperone to an infinite amount of field trips, camping excursions, and sporting events for her boys.

In 1987, the family moved from Marengo, Indiana to Limestone County, Alabama. There, Vegie worked at First Alabama Bank in Huntsville as a teller, then at Calhoun College and Martin Methodist College in their bookstores. She and Tom faithfully attended and were active in Sweet Springs Baptist Church in Ardmore, Alabama and New Bethel Baptist Church in Elkmont, Alabama. She loved to have visitors over and often hosted Tupperware parties, game nights, secret/ dirty Santa parties, and many family dinners and cookouts.

In 2003, Vegie became a grandmother, a role in which she gleaned much joy and fulfillment. In fact, in 2014, she and Tom moved to Copperas Cove, Texas in order to be closer to their grandchildren. There, they became members of Eastside Baptist Church and spent a lot of enjoyable hours with their family.

In May of 2022, her heart broke and never recovered when she lost her Tom after fifty-seven years of marriage. Vegie passed away a short time later, on Saturday, 17 September 2022 in Temple, Texas after suffering a multitude of ailments.

Vegie was a survivor. She survived two bouts with cancer and more conditions than needs to be mentioned here. She was a fiercely ardent woman who gave of her time, body, and home. She braved long-distance travel, surgery, and worry, time and time again, to come to the aid of those she loved. Many have stated that she should have been sainted for her tolerance of her husband’s antics, and many others concurred (most of all Tom). Vegie was an excellent cook, a talented gardener, a gracious hostess, a generous caregiver, a wonderful friend, a sweet lady, and a woman of God. She will be missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom; parents, Vera and Crofford Nelson; her brothers, Claude, Julian, Kenneth, and Eddie; and two infant sisters, Mavis and Reba.

She is survived by her sons, Nelson and Shawn; daughter-in-law, Jenny; grandchildren, Ashley, Jax, Joey, and Emily; sisters, Olga and Linda; beloved sister-in-law, Ann; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family who she held dear.