Nell Johnson Alexander of Napoleon passed away at 8:34AM on Friday, May 27th at “Our Hospice of South Central Indiana” in Columbus. Nell was born on January 24, 1925 in Crabtree, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Carrick and Laura Johnson who both have preceded her in death. As a child Nell was always caring for animals on the family farm and later acquired the desire for nursing after attending to her ill uncle and aunt. A year after graduating from Cloudland High School in Roan Mountain, Tennessee, she entered the ASA Nursing Cadet Training school at Hillcrest Memorial Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma and graduated from there in 1947.
Upon completing training in Oklahoma Nell made a trip to Napoleon to visit her sister Edith (Johnson) Smith, where she met her husband of 57 years, Paul Alexander. After marrying, she was employed for 6 years as an office nurse for Doctor R. Lee Smith in Osgood, Indiana. Nell and Paul moved to Napoleon from Osgood in the early 1950’s. For a short period, Nell was a stay at home mom, she then returned to Nursing at Margaret Mary hospital in Batesville Indiana for approximately 32 years. At Margaret Mary, Nell worked in numerous departments within the hospital. She first worked as a floor nurse on the Medical floor, then in OB & Delivery, Emergency Room and finally as the Supervisor of the Operating Room.
When Nell retired she spent her time with Paul, her children, baby sitting and caring for her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. Nell was an avid reader, loved to be outside tending to her garden, taking morning walks with her sister Edith and Mrs. Francis Borgman and finding hidden treasures at yard sales. She also enjoyed traveling to visit and spend time with her children and their families who lived outside the state of Indiana.
Nell remained in heart, a true “Tennessee Country Girl” her entire life.
Nell is preceded in death by her husband Paul L. Alexander, her sisters Irene Shell (Frank), Lucy Whitehead (Ed) Edith Smith (Charles) and June Wilson (Ed).
Nell will be forever missed by her daughters Pamela Hurlebaus (Dennis) of North Carolina, Arlene Alexander of Largo, Florida, her son Robert Alexander (Diane) of Napoleon Indiana, her daughter Deborah Liming (John) of Versailles Indiana, her brother Warren (Judge) Johnson of Waldron, Indiana and her 13 Grandchildren, 26 Great Grandchildren and 3 Great-Great Grandchildren.
Family and Friends may gather in remembrance of Nell from 10 to 11am with a memorial service from 11 to 12pm on June 10th at Saint Johns Lutheran Church in Napoleon.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to St Johns Lutheran Church or The Napoleon Fire Department.