Vicki "Sachi" Sachiko Nelson

Most would know her as Sachi, the fiery drummer, fierce mother, and loving friend. She never let her presence go understated with her eternal bright blue hair and punk rock outfits.

Sachi was born in Iwakuni, Japan, to Chuck, serving as a marine in Vietnam, and Sadako, the mayor’s daughter. She was adopted by Charlie and Marian Nelson, her grandparents, and lived as a military brat in Arizona, Texas, Alabama, Illinois, and Oklahoma until the Nelsons moved to the RRR, in Red Rock, Texas. It was here that Sachi discovered her love of horses, catfish ponds, swimming pools, and family. Such was her love for the ranch, that Sachi and Aubrey married at the pecan grove on the RRR in June 1996.

Sachi's first child was born in 1999, the second in 2008, and the third brought in during 2021. Sachi unwaveringly loved her family and instilled in her children a deep curiosity and appreciation for the world. There were many years of elaborate Halloweens, pug parades, renaissance faires, and endless days of long walks, hiking, camping, and paddle boarding. The queen to top all of these was, of course, board games. If you knew Sachi, there would be no escape from her dragging you into overly complex family games, requiring hours to play through.

Her great passions were music and art. She was the drummer for Austin punk rock band The Lusties and later joined the Austin Taiko drum group. Every waking hour not spent on the go, she was fervently working on mosaics. Any brave enough to step foot in her studio could testify to her dedication, showing off glass splinters as bloody proof. Her work has been featured in multiple galleries, and she often collaborated with the local mosaic guild.

She owned many beloved pets and volunteered for many years at Pug Rescue of Austin, helping orphaned pugs find new families. She worked for some years at Ben White Animal Hospital and met many lifelong friends during her time there. She both homeschooled her own children and taught many others at St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church and Austin Rising School.

Sachi was uncommonly intuitive and fiercely loyal to her friends. She embodied the word compassion and always listened wholeheartedly.

She is survived by her husband Aubrey K. McAuley, her children, her mother Sadako Eguchi and brother Hisitaka, and Nelson family sisters Victoria Palmer, Robbi Francovich, and brother Bruce Nelson, as well as numerous aunts and uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces and many, many good friends.

Instead of sending flowers, please make a donation to Pug Rescue of Austin at https://austinpugrescue.com/donate

Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 11am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 4045 Farm to Market 535, Bastrop, TX 78602. Celebration of Life immediately following at Hilbig Park/Rockne Museum 4065 Farm to Market 535, Bastrop, TX 78602.