Nelda J Kettler
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Nelda J Kettler Broker |
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On a snowy, icy night in January years ago Rollan and Dova Shelley drove their daughter Cuma from Whitney to Clifton (crossing the old Whipple bridge) to Goodall-Witcher Hospital to deliver the Shelley’s first grandbaby. That baby was Nelda Jo. (Who knew that years later Nelda would return to Clifton to live for the rest of her life!) Nelda’s father Samuel Bush was overseas fighting in WWII where he was later killed when she was 10 months old. When Nelda was five years old, her mother remarried Willard Allen, and the family continued to live in Whitney, but the fascination with Clifton and Bosque County never ended.
After graduating from Whitney High School , Nelda attended North Texas State University where she met Smokey Kettler from Clifton . They later married, moved to Clifton , and were blessed with two sons, Todd and Mark. Smokey and Nelda celebrated 41 years together this past September. Clifton is “home” and Nelda is very proud to be a part of this community. Todd and Mark both graduated from Baylor University , and they have given the greatest gift of five grandchildren to Smokey and Nelda – Brycen, Hayden, Mason, Michael, and Emma Kate.
Nelda has been a real estate broker since 1974 and has been involved in the Texas market since that time, but also became a teacher and later a school principal. After being an educator for 25 years, Nelda retired and opened her own real estate office in Clifton in 2004. She rolled over her philosophy of ‘with the student’s best interest at heart’ to ‘…with the client’s best interest at heart’. Fortunately, her entire office team feels the same way.
Currently, Nelda also serves as President of the Clifton Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Waco Board of Realtors and MLS, the Texas Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors, the Heart of Texas Builders Association, the Bosque Memorial Museum , the Bosque Conservatory of Fine Arts, the Baylor Foundation, and the Texas Retired Teachers and Administrators. She holds a Master’s Degree from Tarleton State University .
Smokey and Nelda recently purchased a 1940’s German-Norwegian home for the real estate office. It was one where Happy Jenson grew up, so it had special meaning for Smokey because of his relationship with Happy. Also, the home was renovated in the 1980’s by Martin Grelle who also holds a special place in the hearts of Smokey and Nelda. They still remember going to the fair in Waco when they were first married and living in Waco and Martin had won first place in the youth art division. Smokey pointed out that Martin was a Clifton kid, and Nelda was impressed. What a joy watching Martin’s success through the years! Martin sold the home to Smokey’s sister Etta who enjoyed it for 20 years. Now it is the home of Kettler Realty and will have a few more renovations in the coming months.
Nelda loves people and loves the real estate business. Showing property and helping people connect with the right place is very fulfilling. Happy clients puts the icing on the cake! Promoting Clifton and Central Texas is a daily goal for Nelda and Kettler Realty. Call the office at (254)675-2227 and allow us to represent you and show you this great area. You, too, can build memories here!