Ann Elizabeth Furlow

Ann Elizabeth (nee Allen) Furlow-Nelson, passed away peacefully at age 93, surrounded in the loving embrace of her family on September 20, 2025. She was secure in the belief that all of her questions would finally be answered by the God who loved her.

She was a loving mother, devoted grandmother, tender great-grandmother, generous friend, and gregarious audience. Ann’s life was defined by strength, adventure, travelling, unconditional love, and an unapologetic laugh that could be heard across a room when she was enjoying the company of her family and friends.

Born on November 14, 1931, in Christopher, Illinois, Ann was the only child to Harry and Lydia Allen (nee Busby). Her childhood consisted of running with the kids in the neighborhood, meeting her dad in the railyard as he got off his train, and acting as the “big sister” to her cousins in St. Louis and Enfield, IL.

She graduated from Christopher Community High School, class of 1949, as her class valedictorian. In her junior year, she saw her husband-to-be during his senior talent show. A few weeks later, she tracked Stanley Furlow down for a date, and the two were inseparable.

They married in 1950 when Stanley returned from Air Force training, and during 10 years of service, were transferred to bases in Maine, Colorado, Illinois and finally to Randolph AFB. With Ann’s blessing, he left active duty enlisted service, took a civil service position at the Military Personnel Center and was commissioned as a Captain in the Reserves. During their Air Force years, they welcomed their first son Stanley Jr. [Stan] and later their last son Allen.

They set deep roots in the Universal City area and participated in various school events, sports leagues, Boy Scouts, Eastern Star and DeMolay Chapters under Randolph Masonic Lodge #1268. Ann served many years as an election judge for Universal City. Ann and Stanley also helped establish the Community Christian Church which as it grew, was later located on Nacogdoches Road. This period of her life, she was simply known as “Mom” to many of Stan and Allen’s friends as they trumbled though her house. Or being the only female handy, simply addressed as “She” by the family males just to tweak her for a reaction.

In the mid 1970’s Stanley’s kidneys stopped functioning, so Ann attended training on how to set up and run a dialysis machine at the house. Many family friends would come over to chat while Stanley did his 6 hour stint. As important as the dialysis was, on warm Sunday afternoons, it was designated party time in the backyard pool with the usual suspects bringing food and beverages.

After her youngest started high school, and the family routine was established, Ann wanted to get out of the house and return to the work force. She took a business tax clerk position with the accounting firm of Peat-Marwick Mitchell. Ann retired from the firm after progressing in her position for over 20 years.

As long as there was a dialysis facility nearby, Stanley and Ann began to take trips around America and to Hawaii. After Stanley passed in February 1985, Ann continued to travel around the world and even sailed on various cruise lines. She trekked to Hawaii, Hong Kong and went on a trip to Europe with her oldest son Stan.

While discussing her travel adventures, she caught the ear of Raymond Nelson. Since Ray was not chased off by her kids, he and Ann married after a few years and formed a loving couple, great travel crew, and an interactive grandparent dynamic duo. Ray introduced Ann to travelling by motorcycle, camping in tents and small trailers, to finally extended months of trailer park “resort” living out their fifth wheel. They volunteered to work at resorts on their travels and Ruidoso, New Mexico was one of their favorite locations.

Ann and Ray began to see the need to remain more local as more grandkids came along, and the kids could not have loved their Granny and Grandpa Ray more. The love was returned with overnight stays supervised by Granny and wood construction projects in the garage led by Grandpa. There were always Pop Tarts in the cupboard when the kids came over.

Ray passed in May 2021. Ann, now eighty-nine, decided it was worth the adventure to pack up her cats, pull up her Texas roots and move to Vancouver Washington, to be close to Allen’s family in the Pacific Northwest. To keep up with the crowd, she purchased a motorized scooter and ramp for her car. When she decided to stop driving, she would be chauffeured around the area to wherever the fun, food and karaoke was happening.

Although she had slowed down physically the last couple of years, her mind stayed sharp and she remained fully interactive within her retirement community and with her family. In the final few months, she was able to hold her first great grandson and joyfully learned of another great grandson on the way before her passing.

Ann was preceded in death by her first husband Stanley Furlow (Married 1950, Passed 1985); their second son Harry (Passed 1955); and her second husband Raymond W. Nelson (Married 1993, Passed 2021).

Ann is survived by her sons Stan (Jean) Furlow Jr.; Allen (Sonya) Furlow; her grandchildren Rebecca (Cory) Tofflemire; Samantha (Dakota) Tinker; Kyle Furlow; Nicole (Lorenzo) Pereira; her great grandson Aiden Tofflemire; and Nicole and Lorenzo’s great grandbaby boy who is on the way.

She is also survived by the extended family that Raymond brought into their relationship. His children Raymond (Sherry) Nelson, Jr.; and Vronda Zumwalt. Raymond’s grandchildren Candace (Robby) Stopher; Kalia (Shane) Reece and his great grandchildren Jack Stopher; and Ethan with his sister, Kyleigh Reece.

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 11th at Colonial Funeral Home on Kitty Hawk Road in Universal City, Texas. Prior to the service, a time of fellowship will be starting at 2:30pm. The Main Service with a LIVE FACEBOOK FEED begins at 3:00pm.

An informal reception will follow the Celebration of Life at Ernie’s Patio Bar in Cibolo.

Interment will be on January 12th at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Pavilion One, gathering at 9:45am and service starting at 10:00am. Everyone is welcome at any and all events.