Nancy McKay Burton

Competitive in all aspects of her life - an athlete before women were playing sports, an intellectual before women were recognized in academics and a career professional before women were acknowledged as relevant.

Nancy Ellen McKay Burton, 88, of Lake Forest Park, Washington passed away on Saturday, October 26, 2019 in Shoreline, Washington. She is survived by her beloved husband Paul of 64 years; children Ellen Burton (Don Okerlund), Jean (Ted) Over, Bob (Amy) Burton, and Katie (Pat) Simmons; nine grandchildren and five nieces and nephews; sister Joyce McKay Clise, and many other friends and family members.

Born July 5, 1931 in Spokane, Washington to Effie Duff and Richard McKay, Nancy was the youngest of three children, all of whom shared the same birthday. As the child of an engineer and English teacher, Nancy was raised to be precise, practical, competitive, honest to a fault, and to always do her best. At Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane she was valedictorian, state badminton champion, a flutist and majorette in the marching band. She attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington along with her best friends, Nancy Stier and Nancy Morrison, forming the “three Nancy’s”. She developed leadership skills as president of both Mortar Board and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Graduating Cum Laude from Whitman in 1953, she was also honored as a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

An avid outdoors woman, Nancy met Paul during a college ski trip where his Chevy slid into an icy ditch. This inauspicious event marked the beginning of their life-long love of skiing, camping, hiking, and canoeing.

After marrying Paul in 1955, they lived in Alaska where he served as a Coast Guard Officer based on a ship in Ketchikan. When the School Superintendent learned a college graduate had newly arrived in Ketchikan he called Nancy and offered her a high school teaching job despite her lack of teaching experience or training. This kept her busy while Paul's ship was away on its missions. After his active duty was over, they returned to Stanford University where Paul earned his MBA and Nancy studied History as a graduate student. Always the perfectionist, Nancy achieved straight A’s.

While raising their four children in Lake Forest Park, they spent summers on the water at the family cabin at Newman Lake, Washington and winters on the snow at Yodelin, Washington. She enjoyed ripping up the slopes at Stevens Pass until she was 82. Nancy cheered on the Stevens Pass Athletic Club (SPAC) ski racers as a parent and grandparent and was honored by SPAC for her contributions in 2004.

She loved her Whitman College experience and contributed to the college throughout her life. During her 15 years on the Board of Overseers she pushed for improved diversity on campus. She also served as co-chair of the Whitman Alumni Fund. Recognized for her service, she received the Gordon Scribner award. She was delighted that some of her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews attended Whitman.

Nancy always had a warm smile and warm chocolate chip cookies for the neighborhood kids. She was the Mom that attended all the events, led the Campfire group pedaling through the San Juan Islands or backpacking along the Pacific Crest Trail. She volunteered to lead and participate in a wide range of committees from local PTAs and library boards to State-wide commissions.

Throughout her life, Nancy achieved many firsts, both academically and in public service. Sought after for her quick intelligence and facilitation skills, Nancy’s work in the community had a common thread – striving to improve the community boards or educational institutions where she served. As the first woman on the King County Planning Commission, the men thought she was there to serve coffee. She politely, yet firmly, informed them that she was not.

Nancy served on County and State-wide commissions focused on planning for the future of Washington State, the outcomes of which impact us today. As a member of the King County Forward Thrust group, they recommended and passed bond measures funding a Youth Service Center, the Kingdome, roads, sewers, and parks. Appointed by then Governor Dan Evans, Nancy served as a member of the Alternatives for Washington studying the future of transportation, recreation, housing, environment, and education.

Her transition from professional volunteer to career professional started in 1975 when she began working for the Seattle School District as a Facility Planner and Policy Analyst for the next 15 years. This was the time of school closures and de-segregation. She was in the thick of it, running the public hearings and developing plans that the community could support. Her team developed a process to ensure buy-in by involving the public, educators, and City of Seattle in the complex closure decisions.

After retiring from her professional career, Nancy enjoyed her time with family pursuing outdoor activities while continuing to volunteer. Every summer she hosted Grandma Camp at the family lake cabin. With her early experience as waterfront director at Campfire camps, she was well prepared to teach the grandchildren to swim and to paddle her treasured Old Town canoe. A dedicated volunteer, both the Mortar Board Alumni/Tolo Foundation and University of Washington Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association acknowledged her lifelong contributions.

Join us for a celebration of life on Saturday, December 21, 2019, from 1 – 4 pm at the Edmonds Yacht Club, 326 Admiral Way, Edmonds, WA 98020.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to one of Nancy’s favorite charities:

Alzheimer’s Association

225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17

Chicago, IL 60601

https://act.alz.org/

Dale Turner Family YMCA

19290 Aurora Ave. North

Shoreline, WA. 98133

https://www.seattleymca.org

Shoreline Community College Foundation

16101 Greenwood Ave. N.

Suite #1005 - Admin Building

Shoreline, WA 98133-4101

http://www.shoreline.edu/foundation

Shoreline Public Schools Foundation

18560 1st. Ave. NE

Shoreline, WA 98155

www.shorelinefoundation.org

St. Vincent de Paul of North Idaho

201 E. Harrison Ave.

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814

Attn: Katie Simmons

http://www.stvincentdepaulcda.org/

Whitman College

Development Office

345 Boyer Avenue

Walla Walla, WA 99362

https://www.whitman.edu

Share fond memories and expressions of sympathy at https://www.dignitymemorial.com.

FAMILY

Paul Burton, husband

Son: Bob Burton (Amy), Grandchildren Anne and Kate

Daughters:

Ellen Burton (Don Okerlund), Grandchildren Vaughn and Andrew

Jean Burton Over (Ted); Grandchildren Stephen (fiancée Molly Warner), James and Clayton

Katie Simmons (Pat), Grandchildren Samantha (husband Josh Walker and son Xander) and Cory

Joyce McKay Clise, sister; Nephews Richard and Al

Bob N. Burton, Brother-in-law and Joan Burton, Sister-in-law; Niece Barbara (Jim Wehmeyer and children Cecilia and Henry), Nephew Richard (Lynn Dodson), Niece Carol (Robin McCain)