Nancy Brown Howe

She is predeceased by her parents Duncan Breckenridge Brown and Mary Venable Brown.

She is survived by her husband Jamie (Jim) Mays Howe; her children, Ellen Howe Gannon (Jack), Jamie Mays Howe Jr. (Martha), and Harriet Hornor Howe (Bob); her grandchildren, Jamie Mays Howe III (Susannah), Jack Trigg Gannon Jr., Virginia Howe Sasser (Campbell), Grace Ann Gannon, Nancy Gannon Barczak (Michael), Kelly Katherine Howe, Peter Collins Simpson, Sara Simpson Fisher (Nathaniel), and Abigail Frances Simpson; and six great-grandchildren.

Nancy was born in Little Rock, AR, on March 16, 1936. She moved to Houston, TX, as a child where she remembered fondly growing up among an extended family including her two cousins Ellen Marie and Edith Ellen, all three of whom were named for their grandmother, Nancy Ellen Collins Venable. She and her mother returned to Little Rock during her teen years. Throughout her life she remained a proud graduate of Little Rock High School and former cheerleader for the Tigers.

Nancy enrolled at Mary Baldwin College in Stanton, VA, in the fall of 1953. Soon after she met her life-long love Jim, a fellow Arkansan, who was attending Washington & Lee University. Nancy transferred to the University of Arkansas in 1955 becoming a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. She and Jim were married September 8, 1956, and began their married life in Augusta, GA, where Jim was stationed in the Army. They returned to Arkansas in 1959 where they resided on the Howe family farm in Wabash, AR. Nancy and Jim would live in Phillips County, AR (Wabash and Helena) for the next 60 years before moving to Dallas to be closer to children and grandchildren.

Nancy, an English major in college, was a lifelong student and teacher. She became the first librarian for DeSoto School in West Helena, AR, in 1970, where she lovingly built a collection of great literature and educational resources. She is best remembered for introducing a generation of young students to the imaginative world of children’s literature. During her tenure at DeSoto School, she earned a Master’s in Library Science from the University of Mississippi. She would later accept the role of librarian for Phillips County Community College where she led a department expansion and mentored hundreds of college students. In her retirement she joyfully participated in the local tutoring program Terrific Tuesday.

Nancy was a loving companion to Jim throughout her life. She was a loyal travel partner to St Louis Cardinal baseball weekends, while he rarely missed a children’s book event within a day’s drive of Helena. They enjoyed trips with family and friends to England, Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, and destinations across the country. As a parent, Nancy was committed to her children and grandchildren throughout her life, rarely missing any event that included graduation, dance, music, sports, scouting or horses. And as a talented seamstress, she could enhance or mend a ballet costume, prom dress, baseball pants, or riding gear.

Committed to community, Nancy and Jim were ever-present at events supporting Helena or Phillips County. She served the Delta Cultural Center as part of the Arkansas Department of Heritage, was an active member of the Arkansas Library Association, and was a steady presence as a poll watcher for years. Nancy was also a committed member of St. John’s Episcopal church where she served on the Altar Guild. As an avid cook and gardener, she was always eager to prepare a meal or arrange flowers for any occasion or event.

Due to travel challenges at this time, a small family service will be held in Dallas, TX.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the loving care and kindness provided by the Belmont Village staff, Fox Ridge staff, and Kindred Hospice Care.

In lieu of flowers, please remember Nancy with a gift to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 625 Pecan St., Helena, AR, 72342, or DeSoto School Foundation, c/o Arkansas Community Foundation, www.arcf.org.