Nancy Miles Dees

She was the sixth child of Orla Ola Miles and Lenolia Mitchell Miles. Her father owned and ran City Hardware and her mother took care of their 6 children and her mother.

She lived at 111 Crescent Avenue for the first 19 years of her life, attending Rix Elementary, Hot Springs Junior High and Hot Springs Senior High School, where she played tennis & basketball and graduated with the Class of 1949. From there she attended Henderson State Teachers College (now Henderson State University) until 1951.

On June 24, 1951, Nancy, married the love of her life, James William Dees, whom she met her freshman year at HSTC. She followed James from Arkansas, to California, Germany, Louisiana and Texas; they lived in 24 different houses or apartments during their marriage of 71 years.

Nancy, worked in various offices in clerical and bookkeeping positions as they moved. When they settled in Houston, she worked part-time, then full time with Houston Gasket and Packing Co for 8 years. She then obtained a position at Exxon USA in June 1976 and retired in 1992.

After retirement Nancy and James spent 21 years in Shepherd, Texas where they became very active in Shepherd United Methodist Church and other volunteer endeavors. Nancy led numerous UMW Craft Fairs, did the church financial reports, worked VBS, was a member of the Prayer Shawl Ministry and sang in the choir. She was also involved with Habitat for Humanity and Shepherd Senior Citizens Resale Shop. During this time, Nancy and James bought a nice piece of property in Crockett, Texas and spent countless hours of hard work making it into a wonderful place for the grandkids to hunt and for all of us to enjoy working together and relaxing around the campfire.

In August 2008, they moved to Oakhurst of Kingwood in Porter, Texas to be closer to their children and grandchildren and medical facilities. They joined Kingwood United Methodist Church and were members of the Bible Study with ‘Joy’ Sunday School Class and volunteered for food drives, backpack stuffing, and other projects. Nancy was a faithful blood donor and volunteer for the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, earning a Volunteer of the Year award.

They then moved to Sugar Land, Texas and joined Sugar Land United Methodist Church and became active in their new community at Landon Ridge. They enjoyed meeting new friends and trying new activities.

Nancy is preceded in death by her husband, James Dees, her parents, brother and sisters, and granddaughters Brittany & Brianne Dees.

She is survived by her son, Jim Dees, her daughter Tricia Williamson, her daughter-in-law Kim Dees, her son-in-law Paul Williamson, her grandsons Mark, Ben (wife Brittney), and David (wife Nikii) Williamson, her granddaughter Caitlin Dees, her great-grandson Levi Williamson, and great-granddaughter Claire Williamson.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider donating to either:

Alzheimer’s Association

P.O. Box 96011

Washington, DC 20090-6011

Sugar Land Methodist Church

431 Eldridge Road

Sugar Land, TX 77478

(Angels Among Us Ministry)

Note: Since there will not be a public memorial service, the family suggests that you enjoy some fried catfish, Mom’s favorite, and think about your sweet memories of Nancy.

The family is very thankful to the special caregivers at Landon Ridge Assisted Living, Memory Care, who lovingly and compassionately cared for our Mom in the final months of her life.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.settegastkopf.com for the Dees family.