Nancy Rae Henderson

She wrangled planes out of the sky as an Air Traffic Controller and then decided, midlife, that being a lawyer sounded like a nice relaxing hobby. She graduated law school just in time to argue with everyone legally.

Her greatest mission? Dog mom to a gang of dachshunds with more personality than most people. Her “pack of misfit weenies” lived like royalty—and probably ate better than you.

When not saving dogs or arguing in court, Nancy crocheted enough blankets to warm a small country and yelled at the Cowboys through the TV like they could hear her. Spoiler: they couldn’t.

She was a mom, grandma, great-grandma, and general family legend. Preceded in death by many, including her beloved son Tony "TG" Guy, her departure has left a lot of empty chairs—and full dog bowls.

Nancy Rae Henderson leaves behind not just a legacy not measured in accolades or possessions, but in lives touched, dogs rescued, children raised, and kindness spread like wildfire, but also her sister-in-law Cindy Golus, grand- and great-grand nieces and nephews, and two beloved adopted daughters Jennifer Kane and Zinzi Bonilla, along with grand and great-grandchildren. She lived boldly, loved deeply, and never backed down from what mattered most.

May we all strive to live with even a fraction of her courage, heart, and humanity. In her name, may we continue to rescue, to laugh, to fight for what’s right, and to always root for the underdog — human or dachshund alike.

Nancy’s gone, but if you hear barking or feel the sudden urge to yell “Go Cowboys!”—that’s just her checking in.