Fern Elizabeth Nance

Fern Elizabeth Nance made her transition on March 5, 2019, at the Willard Walker Hospice Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at the age of 85. Born in Welch, Louisiana in 1933 to Robert and Gertrude Trent as one of eight children, Fern moved to Chicago as a young girl and lived there for many years before moving to Fayetteville in 2003. She met and married her husband Eual Dean Nance in Chicago in 1956. Fern was a deeply spiritual woman who lived a faith-filled life and enrolled in courses to deepen her understanding of scripture and theology. An avid reader who filled her home with light and greenery, Fern had a zest for life and an adventurous spirit. She had a quick wit and ready laugh. She loved to travel and was open to and enjoyed new experiences. She was an advocate for children and deeply believed in the value of education. Fern was a community activist, Sunday school teacher, Eastern Star and PTA member while living in Chicago. She taught her children that nothing was out of reach for them and she exposed them to the breadth of what life had to offer. Her house was where the neighborhood children would come to gather. When she moved to Fayetteville, she continued to engage with young people on the University of Arkansas Campus. In Chicago, Fern was a member of Windsor Park and Immanuel Lutheran churches, and Christ Universal Temple. Her spiritual home in Fayetteville was Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir, participated in the Love Bears Ministry and later served in the Prayer Ministry. Her vocation was an administrative professional. She worked for Saks Realty, University of Chicago, CNA and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois. Fern is survived by two brothers, London and Claude Trent, her four children Cynthia, Kevin, Phillip and Elliot Nance; seven grandchildren Kristopher, Phyleisha, Miles and Fiona Nance, Kelly Joseph, Kendall Rapier, Amanda Ellison; and five great-grandchildren Jordan and Ava Ellison and Xavier, Roman and Julian Rapier. Family and friends will hold a Celebration of Fern's life at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville on May 5, 2019 at 1 p.m. The family asks that in lieu of flowers memorials be sent to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church or to the Eual Dean and Fern Nance endowed scholarship at the University of Arkansas School of Law. To sign the online guest book visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.