Maymie Nelda “Nell” Weisbach

Maymie Nelda “Nell” Weisbach, aged 97, passed away peacefully in her home in Boulder, CO on July 17, 2017. She was a beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, and her family will miss her greatly. Nell was born on December 5, 1919 to Ottie Dumas Pruitt and America McCollum Pruitt in Anson, Texas. Nell lived in Texas for most of her life.
After high school, Nell became a registered nurse and joined the Army. Nell met her future husband Philip (“Phil”) Thomas Weisbach Jr., a physician, when they were both stationed at Ft. Bliss, near El Paso, TX. They married after Pearl Harbor was bombed; they were both deployed to the South Pacific theater where they served for the duration of World War II. Nell served as the head surgical nurse in a MASH-like hospital in New Guinea
After the war, Nell and Phil settled in Beaumont, Texas, where they raised their 4 children. Phil was an ophthalmologist, and Nell worked as Phil’s surgical nurse for many years. Nell spent several years in public service in Beaumont as well, as a school board member and a city council member.
Throughout her life, Nell had a passion for travel. As a result, she visited all 7 continents and many foreign countries. Also, Nell and Phil went on several medical missionary trips abroad (Haiti, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Africa). Their cataract surgeries restored eyesight to many patients in impoverished places.
Nell and Phil bought a ranch near Ft. Davis, TX in the early 1970’s. Nell loved West Texas, and the family had many wonderful Thanksgiving celebrations there. In the early 1990’s, they acquired an adjacent property with an abandoned vineyard. Nell re-energized the vineyard, and sold her grapes to Texas wineries. She enjoyed the wine business so much she opened a winery and tasting room (called “Blue Mountain Winery”) on the property. Her Cabernet wine won a medal as “Best in Texas” one year, as judged by the Texas Wine Growers Association.
After almost 60 years of marriage, Phil died in 2002. Nell moved to Boulder, Colorado in February 2011 to be closer to family. She lived in the Carillon at Boulder Creek, where she lived independently until she entered hospice care in mid-June 2017. The Weisbach family had weekly Sunday night dinners, where four generations of family gathered, ate good food, joked, and laughed at lot. Nell loved those family get-togethers.
While at the Carillon, Nell met another resident, Ike Markowitz. They became inseparable companions. Nell was devoted to Ike, and he was by her side, along with her family, to the end. It was great for the family to see that love has no age limits! They were such a comfort to each other.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Nell’s memory to Rocky Mountain Honor Flight at https://www.honorflight.org/ or the charity of your choice. The Rocky Mountain Honor Flight is an organization that takes WWII and Vietnam veterans to Washington DC to visit their respective memorials. Nell’s military service was a source of great pride to her – a true patriot. Nell took part in the Honor Flight, which was a powerful and moving experience for her.
Nell was preceded in death by her by her parents, her husband Phil and her five siblings. She outlasted them all. She is survived by her four children; Philip Weisbach III and his wife Mary (of Boulder, CO), Juanita Madole (of Boulder, CO), D.D. Mallard and her husband Norm Dawkin (of Boulder, CO), and Katie Spence and her husband David (of Alexandria, LA); by 8 grandchildren, and by 12 great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 2 PM at Atonement Lutheran Church (reception to follow).