Nellie: Mother and Mentor

Nellie, "Bud", and "Patsy" Warren, 1940

Motherhood came to Nellie with the birth of her daughter Patricia Nell in 1936. By this time, Conrad had invested heavily in Belgian horses. It required a great deal of traveling, with Nell staying behind to care for "Patsy" and, by 1940, her little brother, Conrad Kohrs Warren II or "Bud" to the family.

At times Nellie had household help, leaving her to care for the children fulltime. Perhaps this made it possible for Nellie to better understand and focus on her children's talents and passions. Patricia was given painting supplies to help develop her obvious artist gifts and later a typewriter to encourage her love of writing. Con and Nell ensured her college education. Patricia Nell Warren is now an author and publicist. Young Conrad received the same attention. His passion was model planes and radio equipment. An antenna was raised in the yard enabling young Con to transmitt and receive internationally. Conrad was an Air Force pilot and started an aeronautics business. He is currently an engineer and an inventor of ultra-light plane engines.

Both Patricia and Conrad fondly remember and appreciate the education they received at home. Conrad II said;

"I never learned anything in high school that I didn't learn here [at home] first."

Sitting around the kitchen table, the family would debate the authenticity of a movie picture they might have seen the night before. A set of Encyclopedia Britannica was kept handy for answering questions.

Conrad Warren, in a letter to his wife shortly before her passing summed it up;

"I think we can be proud of Pat and Bud and I think whatever success they have is mostly due to your attention and the love you gave them."

Bud Warren with model airplane, 1953