Nancy Reeves Mcadams

Nancy Reeves McAdams died September 18, 2005 at the age of 76, of the effects of metastasized breast cancer. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1929, the daughter of Calvin G. and Diana Miller Reeves. The family moved to Austin in 1942, and Nancy graduated from Austin High School in 1946. She married Kelly R. McAdams of Austin in 1950, while both were seniors in the School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Austin. After graduating in 1951, they practiced architecture together and as members of other firms. Pursuing an interest in research, Nancy returned to campus in 1961 and earned a Master of Library Science degree. In 1965 she began 20 years of service to the University, first as manager of the Architecture Library; then as Associate Director of General Libraries; as the Libraries’ project director for construction and occupancy of the Perry-Castaneda Library, Fine Arts Library and several other campus libraries; and finally as Associate Director of the Office of Planning Services, where she facilitated new construction and renovation projects of all kinds for the Main and Pickle campuses. In 1984 she opened a consulting practice which provided planning services to college and university libraries and to architectural firms, and completed more than 100 library projects throughout the United States and Canada before retiring in 1996. During her University and consulting careers she was active in professional organizations: she held office in the Texas Society of Architects; served on the national Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects; and held numerous offices and committee chairs in units of the American Library Association, including the presidency of the Library Administration and Management Association in 1983/84. She is survived by her husband and best friend, Kelly R. McAdams and her beloved daughter Claire McAdams, Claire’s husband Ben Luckens and their son Ethan Luckens, all of Austin. She is also survived by her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Martha McAdams Vertrees and Ralph Vertrees of Austin, and their children and grandchildren; by her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Billye McAdams Muecke and Herbert O. Muecke of Huntsville, and their children and grandchildren; and by the children and grandchildren of her late brother John L. Reeves of Dallas. Following cremation, a private family graveside will be held at Austin Memorial Park. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorials in her honor be directed to the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin, to the Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, Austin or to the McAdams Cemetery Association, c/o Donnie McAdams, 4291 Pee Dee Lane, Madisonville, TX 78962. The family expresses its gratitude to Dr. John F. Sandbach, nurse practitioner Lisa Painter, and the infusion therapy nurses at Texas Oncology for their years of excellent care. They also thank Dr. Sarah Westgate, Neurologist, and Hospice Austin’s Christopher House for their kind and professional service. Obituary and guestbook available online at wcfish.com