Betty Kathryn Scott Nelson

Betty Kathryn Scott Nelson, 79, of Bossier City, Louisiana, received the greatest honor of going to be with the Lord after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on July 11, 2024. 

She was born in Delhi, Louisiana right at the end of WWII, May 26, 1945, to Eddie and Geneva (Jean) Scott. After the war they moved to Shreveport where she spent most of her early years as a child and then moved to Bossier City, Louisiana, where she raised her children and lived. She graduated from Fair Park High School in 1963. She went on to receive her bachelor’s in education from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. She later received her Master’s in Elementary Counseling from Louisiana State University in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

Through her teaching career in Caddo and Bossier Parishes she received many teaching accolades. Her passion was all the children she taught through the years, helped in difficult times, and making sure each one of them knew Mrs. Nelson cared deeply about their educational growth. The stories that she had were amazing and to know she was making a difference in the children’s lives is what brought her great joy. After she retired, she still wore that teaching hat by volunteering her time at her own children’s elementary school for many years. Teaching and inspiring young minds were in her DNA.

She always had a love of her garden, which was her little oasis, especially in her backyard. She was constantly sharing her plants with her children, neighbors, and other family members so that beauty would be in their gardens too. She had many plants that were brought from her childhood home, as they reminded her of her past family and carried that history through the love of her flowers.

Where she found peace was at her church home, First Baptist of Shreveport. She volunteered to work vacation bible schools, singing in the senior singers to brighten the residents in local nursing homes, always involved in her bible study groups, and would do pretty much anything to enrich the life of someone else through the work of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior.

Betty leaves behind her beloved husband of 54-1/2 years of marriage, Robert (Bob) W. Nelson; her two children and their spouses, Vicki Nelson Cusimano and Mark A. Cusimano of Madison, Alabama, and Brad Nelson and Jessica Baker Nelson of Prosper, Texas; her grandchildren Jack Cusimano, Aubrey Nelson, Chandler Nelson, and Chase Nelson will greatly miss their MeeMee as she loved her grands dearly. She is preceded in death by her parents, Eddie L. Scott and Jean Vick Scott; her sister, Linda Scott Foster, and nephew, Brian L. Foster. 

Honoring Betty as pallbearers will be Mark Cusimano, Jack Cusimano, Brad Nelson, Jacob Merritt, Matt Branch, and Carl Wilkinson.

Visitation will be held beginning at 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2024, in the chapel at First Baptist of Shreveport, 543 Ockley Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana. Interment will follow at Forest Park East Cemetery, 3700 St. Vincent Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Ronney Joe Webb with Dr. Jeff Raines assisting.

Betty will always hold a very special place in so many people that she touched throughout her life and a profound influence on the children she taught and helped through her time as an educator. She was dedicated to her family, she loved to travel, and spending her retirement years with her husband Bob and all the little fur babies that were in her life. Her spirit will live on through the countless lives and enduring legacy of service, love, and devotion she leaves behind.

We want to thank St. Joseph Hospice and their caring staff. A special thank you to all the church members and clergy from First Baptist of Shreveport that lifted the entire family up. 

In lieu of flowers, we encourage that memorial donations be made to First Baptist of Shreveport, 543 Ockley Drive, Shreveport, LA 71106 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.