Patsy Sterling Nelson ("Pat") passed away peacefully on January 28, 2024, at her St. Michael's home. She was born on December 21, 1929, in Crisfield, Maryland, the daughter of Maurice and Dora Sterling. After graduating from Crisfield High School, she continued her education in Baltimore and subsequently was employed in public relations at Capitol Airlines in Washington D.C.

She returned home to Crisfield in 1951 to marry James G. Nelson and raise a family. She was also employed by the Chamber of Commerce at that time. In 1970, she moved with her family to Queenstown, Maryland where her husband served as President of the Wye Institute, a non-profit organization committed to economic and educational development on the Eastern Shore. She was directly involved in many of the Institute's programs. After her husband's death in 1996, she moved to St. Michaels and resided there until her passing.

She is survived by three sons, Michael, Mark, and Maurice, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She will be remembered as a voracious reader and an informed, opinionated observer of her times. She possessed strong affection for animals as well as family and was known to feed raccoons and stray peacocks at her kitchen door. It is said that she once walked onto a frozen Wye River to free geese trapped in the ice.

Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Talbot Humane Society, Inc., 7894 Ocean Gateway P.O. Box 1143, Easton, MD 21601.