Wessie Mae Wilson

Wessie Mae Wilson, 93, of Nederland, died Monday, November 10, 2025. She was born on November 27, 1931, in Camden, Texas, to Thelma Platt and Thomas Earl Wilson.

Wessie was born on her father’s birthday, which also happened to be Thanksgiving Day. She and her four siblings grew up in the Piney Woods of Polk County and learned early on to share the responsibility of chores and family commitment.

At the age of 10, she and her family moved to Pt. Neches, Texas where they enjoyed the modern conveniences of running water and electricity for the first time in their lives. She graduated from Pt. Neches-Groves High School in 1949.

She met Kelso McLaurin in 1950, and they were married in 1951. She and “Mack” began their lives in Nederland, Texas and raised seven children together. She and her family faithfully attended Nederland Church of Christ.

She opened Shady Oaks Daycare in her living room in 1958. As the business began to expand, Mack built a daycare facility on their property. They worked together to develop the business, which ran successfully for 40 years. Eventually she was licensed to care for over 80 children per day and employed up to15 workers to care for the children. She became a business leader for childcare services in the area and organized the Mid-County Association of Child Care Administrators, MACCA. She was the first president and helped develop and implement many of the regulations and policies concerning child safety, learning, and development. The State of Texas adopted the MACCA model at the state level when the Texas Association of Child Care Administrators, TACCA, was formed. She was the keynote speaker in Austin for the TACCA Convention.

She had a creative soul. She developed a folk-art style she called “Shell Art”. She loved the beach, so her passion for beautiful shells became the medium for her creations. She was also a published author. “The Beauty of It All – The Poems and Thoughts of Wessie Wilson” was a beautiful, yet cathartic, achievement that helped her express her thoughts and feelings on life, tragedy, and love.

Wessie lived out her final years at Holland Place Senior Assisted Living where she received great care and extraordinary love by the nurses and staff. Stonewood Hospice and their caring staff were also a blessing to Wessie in her final days.

Survivors include her children, Michael Wilson and his spouse, Jody; Diane Hawkins; Denise Ellis and her spouse, James; Daryl Wilson; Chuck Wilson and his spouse, Deena; and Lee Wilson and his spouse, Beckie; grandchildren, Kevin Hawkins, Keith Hawkins, Scott Decuir, Matthew Ellis, Suzanne Ducote, Laine Wilson, and Marlee Freeman; eleven great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; sister, Margaret Bailey; and brother, James “Bud” Wilson and his wife, Dottie.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kelso “Mack” McLaurin Wilson; son, Thomas Byron Wilson; sister, Gerladine Neal; and brother, Tommy Wilson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to an organization of one’s choice.

A gathering of Mrs. Wilson’s family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m., with her funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 14, 2025, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12^th Street, Nederland. Her interment will follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches.