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Nellie F. Watts

February 18, 1943 - July 13, 2022

Nel (Nellie) Watts went out of this world like she lived it—in light, laughter and love. She was briefly hospitalized at the start of July and then diagnosed with terminal acute leukemia. Typically hard headed, she refused to stay in the hospital, so she came home to be with those she loved the most, telling them she would be here for four more days and then she would be gone. True to her word, she died four days and two hours later, on July 13, 2022, but only after seeing all her friends and family, sharing stories and laughs, and saying her goodbyes.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 18, 2022 at Memorial Services of Iowa (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd.) followed by a graveside service at Ankeny Memorial Gardens.

She was born in Eddyville, Iowa, on February 18, 1943, to George Edward and Odessa Pearl Williams. After graduating from Attica High School, she moved to Des Moines and worked in many different jobs such as auto parts delivery, waitress, line cook, file clerk, and IBM key punch operator. But the job she loved the most was being a letter carrier in Ankeny, retiring after 31 years and several broken bones!

She loved sports and was an avid softball player from high school well through her adult years. She also loved basketball, bowling, and golf. Her hobbies were reading, cross word puzzles, woodworking, cards, and trips to Menards with her daughter. She was an energetic self-taught artist who was always making something, usually for others. Whenever she made something for herself that wasn’t quite perfect, her motto was, “it’s good enough for who it’s for!” She was also very funny, with an irreverent sense of humor. She made friends everywhere she went. A woman of strong principle, she lived by the rules of no lying, cheating, or stealing, but she was most known for her giving and loving nature. She was a generous, fiercely loyal, wonderful person, and she will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her son, Scott Evan Watts on July 3, 1980; her son-in-law, Leonard Winslow Brooks on September 7, 2017; and her parents, George and Pearl Williams. She also lost her two siblings in early childhood, Betty Lou and Elizabeth Ann.

She is survived by her siblings, Loren (Betty) Williams, Tom (Linda) Williams, Marilyn (Larry) Heller, Jerry (Wava) Williams, and Marvin (Betty) Williams; her two daughters, Michelle Gregg and Sherry Brooks; her nine grandchildren, Harmony (Kneal) Hesse, Melody (Josh) Krueger, Candice (Eric Jeffries) Gregg, Roman (Stacey) Gregg, Katy (JJ) Wellons, Harlow Everpine, Hayden Gregg, Lex Brooks, and Gwen Gregg; her seven great-grandchildren, Briley Farley-Gregg, Ethan Cowman, Alec Gregg, Anora Krueger, Alfie Hesse, Kiara Gregg, Elizabeth Wellons; and her “adopted” grandchild, Eryik Fowler.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family in loving memory of Nellie.