Nancy Helen (Degler) Brown, age 87, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, after a long illness on Wednesday, December 26, 2012, at her home in Lacey Washington. She was born March 15, 1925 in Seattle, the daughter of Silas and Helen Degler, the second of five children.
The family, which included four brothers, moved to her mother’s hometown of Olympia when she was young, where much of the family still reside. Nancy graduated from Olympia High School in 1943 and soon after joined the war effort, working at the Bremerton Shipyards. After the war she began studies at the University of Washington. During those years she met and married James Hughes Brown, a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran studying engineering and nuclear physics. Before long she was the proud mother of Michael, who was to be her only child.
The family continued to live in the Seattle area until 1953, while Jim finished his college degrees. After graduation they moved to Richland and later Kennewick where Nancy enjoyed building a new home, gardening and bridge clubs, Newcomers, skiing and entertaining a large group of friends.
In December of 1962 the family moved to suburban Philadelphia (Berwyn) so Jim could continue his work with GE. During the next 7 years Nancy enjoyed the east coast and all the cultural experiences that it offers. By 1970 they were back in Richland where Jim began working with Exxon Nuclear, selling fuel to customers in Asia. By now the pattern was clear: 7 years in one place, then move, which explains her lifelong participation in Newcomer Clubs. Nancy and Jim later moved to Redmond where they lived in Sahalee and learned to play golf in earnest. This was followed by a short stay in Cupertino, California and an even shorter period living in Taipei, Taiwan. Nancy was ever the trooper.
When Jim retired they relocated to the family compound which consisted of the now-subdivided waterfront portions of the old family farm on Steamboat Island Road. There they built a new home on 5 acres and lived for a happy 18 years. When the landscaping became too much in 1998, they moved to smaller quarters at Indian Summer in Lacey where they renewed their love of golf, bridge and entertaining large group of friends. It was during this period that Nancy and Jim began recreational travel in earnest. They visited China, South America, the Caribbean and toured Europe several times, with Rick Steves, on cruise ships, river boats and barges. In recent years Nancy and Jim lived at Bonaventure in Lacey, just a stone’s throw from Indian Summer.
Nancy is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 66 years, Jim, son Michael (Janet), grandson Tyler (Haley), two great-grandchildren (Ella and Alex), brothers Bill and Larry (Ardell), sister-in-law Irene, nieces Cindy Pitcher (Greg) and Annette Edwards (Stuart) and many other nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brothers Jim and Don.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. Christopher’s Community Church on January 5th at 2:00 pm. Graveside services will be private at an undetermined future date.
In lieu of flowers remembrances can be made to Providence Hospice (Providence St. Peter Foundation, 413 Lilly Road NE, Olympia 98506).
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