- Date Of Birth: May 26, 1934
- Date Of Death: March 20, 2012
- State: Idaho
Nelda J. Tiegs Stoops passed away peacefully on the evening of Tuesday, March 20, 2012 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born on May 26, 1934 in Big Springs, Texas to Charlie Haskell Cavnar and Lottie Bell Phillips Cavnar. At the age of 8, the family moved to Alameda, California, where Nelda graduated in 1951 from Alameda High School. At this time, Nelda became a skilled tennis player, beating a girl who would later play on the WTA tour.
April 4, 1954, Ronald Tiegs and Nelda Cavnar were married. Born to Ronald and Nelda were two daughters, Corrie Lyn and Dana Rae. In 1964, the family moved to Lafayette, California where the girls were raised. Nelda was a homemaker and played competitive tennis at a local tennis club. Nelda became a proficient seamstress and loved to sew. She sewed tennis outfits for many of her friends, and numerous horse show outfits for Corrie and Dana.
In 1979, Ronald, Nelda and Dana moved to the Nampa, Idaho area where Ron retired and continued to work for Elmer Tiegs.
In 1998, Nelda met Richard (“Dick”) Stoops, who had returned to Boise after 27 years in the Portland – Vancouver, USA area. Having retired in 1997, Dick was living in a fifth wheel RV. Dick Stoops and Nelda were married on September 25, 1998 and began their life together in Nelda’s Boise home. Dick owned an RV lot in Indio, California and convinced Nelda to travel south for the winter. After the first winter, Nelda always wanted to know when they could go South, even thinking she could manage to do so in October of 2011, her spirit and determination showing. Dick and Nelda also went on several cruises and traveled to many countries.
Nelda played tennis up until the winter of 2009 in Indio, California. She never gave up on the idea she could still get back on the tennis court to continue per passion to play tennis again.
In addition to Richard, Nelda is survived by daughters, Corrie Copple of Good Year, Arizona and Dana Murphy of Middleton, Idaho. Nelda has three surviving grandchildren, Teri Lyn Fisher of Los Angeles, Kellie Rae Hoffman (and husband Ethan Hoffman) of Mandan, North Dakota and Andrew (“Andy”) David Murphy of Boise, Idaho. Nelda has three surviving nieces, Linda Nidick, Janice Davison and Karen Nidick.
Nelda was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Billie Nidick Lotz.
