Nelda Joyce (Phelps) Ainsworth, 83, Bridge City

Funeral services for Nelda Joyce (Phelps) Ainsworth, 83, of Bridge City will be held Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Services will be held at Liberty Baptist Church in Bridge City with Brother Terry Wright and Brother Trey Ainsworth officiating. Interment service will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Griggs Cemetery of Newton County.

         Nelda was born November 18, 1941 in Stringtown, Texas to Jack Phelps and Mellie (Griggs) Phelps, and died Sunday, December 8, 2024 in Lufkin at Hospice in the Pines Inpatient. She married her high school sweetheart, Henry Ainsworth, on June 16, 1962.          

         After graduating from Newton High School in 1960, Nelda attended Tyler Junior College where she danced as an Apache Belle, before attending Lamar University in Beaumont to obtain her teaching degree. She resided in Bridge City for most of her life where she served as a beloved teacher at Hatton Elementary for 35 years in the same creatively decorated and themed 3rd grade classroom. It was not at all unusual to walk into her classroom and find a covered wagon and antique school desks, a rocket ship, or even a huge dinosaur. Nelda understood the importance of multi-sensory learning and making learning fun.

If you knew Nelda, you know her favorite season was Christmas, a time to deck the halls and spend as much time as possible with family and friends. She welcomed people into her home where you could see her vast collection of antiques, Santas, and thoughtfully adorned Christmas trees in every room. When she and Henry hosted people in their home, the fellowship almost always found its way to their antique ice cream bar and Coke machine.

She also loved to travel with Henry, and together, they visited all 50 states, often bringing their children or their parents. In addition to their United States travels, they also traveled to many European countries with her sister and brother-in-law, Jaxine and Kenneth Bishop.

         She is survived by her son, Trey and wife Leslie Ainsworth of Lufkin; daughter, Charin Price of Bridge City; grandchildren, Jadon and wife Kayla Price of Vidor, Laurel Ainsworth of Lufkin, and Mason Price of Bridge City; great-grandchildren, Bryson Powell, Casen Powell, Ryan Price, and Graysin Price of Vidor; sister, Jaxine Bishop of Red Oak; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Judy and John Mouton of Liberty Hill, Linda and Hershel Lansford of Montgomery, Sue and Jeffrey Jones of Navasota; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

         Nelda was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Mellie (Griggs) Phelps and her parents-in-law, Henry Harrison and Jewell Rae (Johnson) Ainsworth; husband, Henry Harrison Ainsworth II. Also, preceded in death by her sister and brothers-in-law, Ree and Johnny Peavy, and Kenneth Bishop; brother-in-law, Harry Ainsworth; sister-in-law, Bootsie Boyett; niece, Gina Patterson; and nephew, Jerad Jones.

         The family will welcome friends and loved ones on Wednesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Carroway Funeral Home in Lufkin and also from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday evening at Liberty Baptist Church.

         Memories and condolences may be added at http://www.carrowayfuneralhome.com, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed on the Liberty Baptist Church YouTube page.