Nancy Wylie Bradley Smila

NANCY WYLIE BRADLEY SMILA, 88, born September 1, 1930 in Birmingham, Alabama to Wilbur Wadsworth and Nancy Mable Hodges Bradley, passed away peacefully January 9, 2019. Nancy, the only child of a Pan American pilot, spent her youth in Alabama, Texas, Florida and Colombia, South America. She was a graduate of Birmingham Southern University and a proud member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. She married William Wallace Smila May 26, 1956 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nancy was a Navy wife and lived with Bill in Southern California, and for several years in Yokohama, Japan during Bill’s deployment there. Nancy and Bill eventually moved to Houston, Texas in 1968 where she lived until her passing.

Nancy was a woman of many talents and loved to learn. She enjoyed drawing, sewing, knitting, cake decorating, Ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arranging), Kokeshi (the art of Geisha and Kabuki Doll making), and Bonkei (miniature tray landscapes). She was a talented golfer and bowler, winning many bowling trophies and awards. Nancy obtained a real estate license, a pilot’s license, and became an LVN working in hospital and private practice settings. After retiring from nursing, Nancy enjoyed excursions each year to many different foreign countries with a travel group from Birmingham.

Nancy was a loving Mother and Grandmother and will be deeply missed! She is predeceased by her parents, husband, and son-in-law John Keith. Nancy is survived by daughter Karen Keith and grandchildren, Katie and Brian Keith; and daughter Gail Peurifoy and husband, Ken. The family will have a small private service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice.