Nellie Courtney (1862-1950) was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and died in an unknown location. She was a student of Mary Baker Eddy's, completing the Primary (1888) and Normal (1887) classes. After studying with Eddy she returned to Omaha and was listed in the directory of The Christian Science Journal as a Christian Science practitioner and teacher until 1889. She joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, in December 1894 and remained a member until her passing. However, Courtney's active involvement with the Christian Science movement appears to have ended in the summer of 1895 when she was accused of having an affair with Ebenezer J. Foster Eddy. Courtney denied the allegation, resigned her position in the Office of the Publisher's Agent, and returned to Omaha. After leaving the Christian Science movement, she moved to England with her husband and two sons. In about 1914, she moved to Arlesheim, Switzerland, and joined the Anthroposophical Society founded by Austrian philosopher Rudolph Steiner.

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