Nancy Lanier

Nancy was born on April 9, 1919 in Salesville, Texas, a small whistle stop near Mineral Wells with a population of 113. Her father worked for the railroad as a telegraph operator and for Gulf Pipeline Co. Consequently, she lived near several Texas towns during her childhood including Eastland, Ranger, and Lufkin, driving her friend's car to school every day when she was ten. She graduated from Lufkin High school and Texas Women's University in Denton, TX.

While living in Lufkin, she met her husband, Armand Lanier, of Jasper, TX, who considered himself a deep East Texan. Armand said "Thanks to Nancy's patience and outgoing nature, we celebrated 65 years together. We were blessed with five wonderful children (four girls and one son)." All five children graduated from Stephen F. Austin H.S. Two daughters have deceased from cancer: Gayle Frye of Austin and Lynda Falls of Dallas.

Nancy and Armand were married while he was serving in the Air Force in San Antonio in 1943. After the War, they moved to Austin, TX, where they built a home in west Austin and lived for fifty-six years before moving into Westminster Manor in 2006. As a faithful member of the University United Methodist Church (UUMC) for over sixty years, Nancy was blessed with the spiritual gift of serving and blessed her church family and the Salvation Army with her devoted servant hood .

Being Depression children, their lifestyle was frugal. Beyond the chores of housekeeping and yard work, she enjoyed sewing for her daughters, making varied clothing and even wedding and bridesmaid dresses. As her children became older, she taught kindergarten and then worked as psychometrist with the Austin Public Schools (she previously taught in Lufkin and San Antonio).

Through the years her married and extended families have always come first in her life. She is survived by one brother, Ernest "Sonny" Lynch of Midland, and children: Nancy Hurst and husband Jack of Naples , Deborah Stephens and husband John of Gatesville, and Armand Lanier, Jr.; sons-in-law: Roy Frye of Austin, and Spencer Falls of Dallas; nine grandchildren: Mike and Steve Sands, Clay Falls and Stephanie Falls Wilson, Scott Elkins, Chris and Steve Lanier, and Spencer and Claire Stephens; and four great grandchildren: Posey and Liam Wilson, Harrison and Jackson Sands - a wonderful, loving family.

A memorial service will be held at Westminster on Friday, November 29 at 3 pm. Burial will be in Jasper, Texas. Memorial contributions can be made to UUMC.