Nancy Rose Wood Fair

Memorial services for Nancy W. Fair, 87, of Tyler will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2011, 3:00 P.M. at Lloyd James Funeral Home with the Rev. Fairfax Fair officiating. Private entombment will be at Cathedral in the Pines Mausoleum and Scottsville Cemetery, Marshall, TX. Arrangements are under the direction of Lloyd James Funeral Home, Tyler.

Mrs. Fair passed away Sunday, October 9, 2011, in Tyler.

She was born April 9, 1924 in Marshall to Samuel E. and Mary Youree Whaley Wood, Jr. Her grandfather, Paul Whaley, a founder of Logan and Whaley Hardware in 1884 was one of Marshall’s most successful businessmen. Her father S. E. owned and operated Wood Motor Company, the first Chrysler dealership in Texas.

On a European group tour at 13, she photographed the Russian harbor with her Brownie camera and was thrown in jail suspected of espionage. Reprimanded and filmless, she was released. When they arrived in France so did World War II. Forced to stay for three months, they endured constant artillery fire and nightly bombings. The group finally sailed home on the same ship with the Kennedy family.

Nancy attended Randolph Macon but later graduated from Southern Methodist University, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She was a career woman for a while -- working for the Dallas Morning News and the Marshall Messenger. Later she owned and operated several retail businesses.

She married James Walter Fair in 1944 and moved to Tyler in 1947, after he completed his naval service. They were married for 52 years.

Nancy became friends with Edna Gladney and supported the efforts of the Gladney Home for Adoption throughout her life. She was a member of the East Texas Edna Gladney Auxiliary and her “basket” brought over 300 babies home to Tyler.

When Nancy moved to Tyler, she embraced her new community and became involved in many civic organizations. Her contribution to Tyler and its citizens has spanned six decades but her influence will be felt throughout the years.

She was a charter member of the Junior League of Tyler, Inc. (Tyler Service League) and the Women’s Symphony League. She served as chair of the fundraising committee to establish East Texas Medical Center and served on the Texas Chest Foundation board for many years.

She was a member and supporter of the Mattie Allen Fair Home for Children, Smith County Red Cross, Camp Fire Girls, Heart of Tyler, Festival Garden Club, Texas College, Salvation Army, The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler and The University of Texas at Tyler.

She was a life long member and supporter of the Republican Party and attended the inauguration of Eisenhower and George W. Bush.

Her involvement in the Texas Rose Festival lasted for many years -- having two daughters selected as “Rose Queen” and a granddaughter who served as a trainbearer.

The Tyler Alumnae Chapter of Pi Beta Phi recently honored her by establishing the Nancy Fair Literacy Fund benefitting local organizations.

In 1980, Nancy initiated a fundraiser for the Mental Health Association by combining all Tyler Mah Jongg card orders into one to substantially increase the rebate paid by the National League. She took the orders, compiled them, and got the maximum rebate every year for 21 years.

She was a member of Marvin United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Fair was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Mary Martha Fair; and brothers, Paul Whaley Wood, and Samuel Eldred Wood, III.

She is survived by her loving family including sons, Wood Fair and wife, Cathie of Flint, Allen Fair and wife, Janet of Tyler; daughter, Ginger Fair of Flint; grandchildren, Amy Fair, Perry Fair Flowers and husband, Jeff, Jay Fair, Christopher Fair, Cara Fair Erwin and husband, Mitch, Alex Gowin and Garrett Gowin; great-grandson, Haden Flowers; and nieces, nephews, and cousins. She also leaves behind many dear and life-long friends whom she truly treasured.

The Fair family sincerely thanks Loretta Warren for her 27 years of love and devotion for our mother.

Visitation will be at 2:30 P.M., prior to the service at Lloyd James Funeral Home.

Memorials in memory of Nancy may be made to the Gladney Center for Adoption, 6300 John Ryan Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76132-4122, or the Nancy Fair Literacy Fund, c/o Tyler Alumnae Chapter of Pi Beta Phi, 6805 LaCosta Drive, Tyler, TX 75703.