Marjorie Nelson Warner

Marjorie Nelson Warner departed this life at the age of 91 years on the morning of February 25, 2025 in Durango, Colorado. Marge was a very active and popular resident of Sunshine Gardens Senior Community where she was known for her congeniality toward all, love of Texas, utter domination of both trivia contests and football pools, her beautifully coordinated attire, and late-life poetry prowess. Some people called her “The Mayor”.

Marjorie was born to Joseph and Flora Nelson in Nome, Texas on November 30, 1933. She grew up in Devers, Liberty County, Texas. She graduated from the then Texas State College for Women (now TWU) as a speech therapist. She married William (Bill) Warner in June 1957.

Marjorie and Bill raised three children in Alto, Texas where Bill, a pharmacist, owned the local drug store, Boyd’s Pharmacy. Marjorie contributed her time and energy to her community, the public schools, and her church. She was known as a great cook who made the best desserts. She was a lifelong football fan who had a collection of Texas A&M tee shirts. Marjorie’s proudest accomplishment was helping start and support Alto’s public library, the Stella Hill Memorial Library, along with the founding ladies of the Alto Thursday Study Club, a group that, to this day, studies and helps preserve local, Texas, and Southern history and literature. When Bill retired, he and Marjorie donated the pharmacy building to the library to bring books and learning into the center of the small town.

After Bill’s death in 2018, Marjorie left her many friends in Alto to move to Durango, Colorado to be near a daughter in her later years. She did not expect the wealth of friends that she would make in her new home, including her special friend, Dr. Duane Smith, a retired college professor who shared her love of history.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Bill Warner; her son, Carl Warner; and her beloved brother, US Air Force Colonel (Ret.) David A. Nelson. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Mary Nelson of San Antonio, her two daughters, Martha Warner Elbert of Durango, whose husband, Fred Elbert, was Marjorie’s patient and devoted caretaker during her last years, and Mary Warner Brown (Michael) of Austin. She was the proud grandmother of Alec and Rafe Brown and Guy and Gus Elbert. She adored her many nephews, nieces and cousins.

There will be a graveside service at Magnolia Park cemetery on Saturday, April 26th 2025 at 2pm.. Marjorie asked that people remember her with a donation to the Stella Hill Memorial Library in Alto, Texas and through reading more poetry.