Retta Louise Vine was born on Saturday, April 5th, 1952 to Mose Vine, Sr. and Juliett Houston in Kansas City, MO. She was raised and received her formal education in the Wichita, KS area.
In 1971, Retta met and married Thomas Nelson in Wichita, KS. They moved to Kansas City, KS and became the parents of sons Thomas Earl Jr. and Antony Lamont. Although the marriage was dissolved, Thomas’ parents, Allean and Modeal, embraced her as a permanent member of their family and she became their second daughter. Years later Retta met Paul Gaines and their daughter Kimberly Michelle was born. Others that would have the privilege of being in Retta’s life were Moses Brown and Wesley Elliott.
Retta was a member of Kansas City Community Church, formerly Freeman Avenue Church of God, where she served in the choir, on the Usher Board and a member of the Kitchen team.
Retta retired after 38 years from Kellogg, formerly known as Sunshine Biscuit. She loved to dress and every part of her outfits always matched. Retta loved to travel with her Kellogg friends and one of her favorite traveling pastimes was to cruise. Retta loved to go out and eat and a yearly tradition was to celebrate birthdays with the “Birthday Girls”. She had an incredible natural talent to create beautiful arrangements and fancy tablescapes, some of which were displayed at her church’s annual Women’s Christmas Brunch.
Retta was predeceased in death by her parents, siblings; Virginia Vine, Mose Vine, Jr., and Leslie Houston. Those left to cherish the memory of Retta are her children, Thomas E. Nelson, Jr., Antony L. Nelson (Elizabeth) of Kansas City, KS and Kimberly M. Estis (Kelvin Sr.) of Raytown, MO, her siblings Karen Sue Dennis, Tulsa, OK, Charlotte Freeman, Kansas City, KS, Charlesetta Shelby, Kansas City, MO, Lorissa Howard (Douglas), Fort Worth, TX, Van Norwood, Chicago, IL and William Houston, Los Angeles, CA, her Nelson siblings, 14 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
