Cover photo for Gerald Ray Nance's Obituary
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Gerald

Gerald Ray Nance

Memorial Service
10:00 A.M. Thursday, May 10, 2018
The Chapel at Oklahoma City Cremation
807 W Wilshire Blvd, Building No. 1
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73116

Gerald Ray Nance passed away Monday, May 7th, at the age of 74 surrounded by his family. He was born April 4, 1944 in Prague, Oklahoma, to MJ and Leona Nance. A proud Southsider, Gerald graduated from Capitol Hill High School in 1962 and later attended Oklahoma City University. He served in the US Navy from 1962 to 1966, including service on the USS Oklahoma. He received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in Vietnam and a Good Conduct Medal.

He ran the family business Nance Screen Builders Supply for 15 years, where he met his wife Reita. Together they had three children, Shannon Calhoun, Lyn (Nance) Hendricks and Stephen Nance. The family lived in Edmond, OK until Reita’s death in 1993. He loved coaching and supporting his children in baseball, softball and football. He was particularly proud of Shannon for becoming an Osteopathic Doctor. He was a proud softball Dad, and loved his moments watching his daughter Lyn play. He loved his long and challenging conversations with his son Stephen about life lessons, politics, and OU Football.

Gerald met his sweetheart and fellow Southsider Karen “Diane” Palmire in 2004 and they married on October 10, 2010. Diane expanded his family with two children, Kari and Ryan, and two grandchildren, Cody and Haley. Diane spoiled him with weekly homemade cakes and they especially loved going to bed early together. In recent years, he enjoyed running an airport shuttle service and had many loyal clients. He had a special relationship with Haley, who admired him dearly even though he never let her answer first during Jeopardy.

Gerald was a lifelong Democrat and political activist and had two unsuccessful bids to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Like his father, he was an avid gardener and always had fresh tomatoes to share with family, friends and neighbors. Anyone who met Gerald during his life knew that he was always prepared with a good joke for the right moment. His sense of humor would light up the room. Gerald had a certain charisma about him that was infectious. He loved and appreciated every one of his long-time friends from McFinn’s and the Blue Bayou.

He is survived by: his wife: Diane (Palmire) Nance; children: Shannon Calhoun and wife Lacey Calhoun, Lyn Hendricks and husband Jeremy Hendricks, Stephen Nance and Fiancée Tamara Palmer; step-children: Ryan Williams and wife Vickie Williams, Kari Pratt and husband Levi Pratt; grandchildren: Chris Calhoun, Peyton Calhoun, Cody Williams, Haley Williams; sister-in-law: Barbara Nance; and many other friends and family.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gerald Ray Nance, please visit our flower store.

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