Nancy Ann Wallace

Nancy Ann (Haley) Wallace, 83, passed away September 26, 2023, from complications due to metastatic breast cancer, which she had battled courageously for years. She was born September 9, 1940, in Wichita Falls, TX, to Wilda Ann (Law) and Gordon Rhymes Haley. The second oldest of nine children, she helped raise her siblings and half-siblings. Nancy’s most precious childhood memories were of the times she spent with her maternal grandmother, Martha Louise Anderson, in Capitan, NM. Throughout her life she drew on memories of being nurtured by her beloved grandmother and wandering free on a horse through the surrounding hills. Nancy had a beautiful voice and sang on the radio, in high school musicals, and in church. In 1959 she graduated from Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, TX, and married Gale Wayne Wallace. She then attended classes at Baylor University and later Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After their divorce in 1970 Nancy worked full time to single-handedly raise three daughters. When she retired from the workforce in 2000, she had been a longtime employee of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in Kansas City, KS/MO, most recently as a housing inspector. She moved to the Denver area soon after retiring. A nonconformist, Nancy followed her own rules. She was known for her strength, directness, natural beauty, sense of humor, intelligence, and authenticity, but mostly her feistiness. She was never dull. An avid crocheter, she gave away hundreds of afghans and scarves over the years. Upon the news of her death, references to those gifts began to pour in. Her passing is a loss beyond measure for her daughters: Cynthia Kay Edwards of Mapleton, KS; Rebecca Wallace Ayers (Munsey Jr) of Arvada, CO; and Kelli Ann Wallace of Denver, CO. She is also survived by Kelli’s fiancé, Bradley Vogt, who helped provide loving care to Nancy in her final months. Other survivors include seven siblings, five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, and many other beloved family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Gloria Gummelt; and grandson Austin Freeman Ayers. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. November 17 at Arvada United Methodist Church, 6750 Carr St, Arvada, CO, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.