Nancy Brunson of McKinney, Texas, (formerly of Montross, Virginia) passed away at home October 2, 2022, at the age of 84. She was born on November 3, 1937, to Vernon Strahan and Ruth (Magee) Strahan in Big Spring, Texas.
Nancy started life with a defective heart and at the age of 16 was one of the early recipients of open heart surgery. She went on to live a very full life and faced challenges in her life with persistence and determination.
Nancy graduated from Lamesa High School. After, she attended the University of Texas Austin and later transferred to Texas Christian University where she met and fell in love with her husband, Kenneth. They married in May 1960 and were together until his passing in March 2013. They moved to Waco in 1964 where they raised their two girls. In 1987, they decided to move to the Washington D.C. area for work and to be near Kenneth’s family. They settled in Harper’s Ferry and spent many happy years in their historic home. Upon retirement, they relocated to the Northern Neck of Virginia to Montross again to be closer to family and live with a beautiful view of the river. They loved watching the water, boats, and wildlife, and created many strong friendships in the area.
Nancy was always very active and willing to follow Kenneth just about anywhere, which included riding motorcycles, spending time on the lake fishing and skiing, or just riding around in the car on the weekend visiting places they hadn't been to or wanted to revisit.
Nancy had a strong sense of community and faith. She spent much of her life volunteering both in the community and at church. When the girls were of school age, she volunteered with PTA and as a Girl Scout leader. After retiring and moving to the 'rivah', she stayed active until 2019 volunteering on her neighborhood's POA board, on her church board, at the local free clinic, and working a 12-hour shift at the election polls on election day.
Nancy was always a great hostess. She enjoyed cooking, and if she wasn't cooking you could catch her watching a cooking show or reading a cookbook. She loved playing any card game, Scrabble or Backgammon with her friends and family. She especially enjoyed playing Bridge with her friends in Virginia. Since moving back to Texas, she spent many afternoons with her new friends playing Rummikub.
Nancy is survived by her daughters, Karen Richards and husband, Greg of Springfield, Virginia and Ann Palu and husband, Craig of McKinney, Texas; grandchildren, Christine, Elizabeth, Rachel, Michaela, Dustin, Megan, and Kody; four great-grandchildren; and a host of other loving family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Kenneth Brunson; great-grandson, Nicholas Westbrook; parents, Vernon and Ruth Strahan; brothers, Wendell Strahan and Wesley Strahan.
A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Callao, Virginia (1717 Hampton Hall Road, 22435).