Nancy Elizabeth Brown Garner, age 90, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2021 after a brief stay at Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care.
Funeral services will be on Saturday, July 24th at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Dale Capron, Rev. Al Geise, and Mary Louise Stowe officiating at Gurley United Methodist Church in Gurley, Alabama. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at Gurley Cemetery. Nancy was a long-time, active member of this church. The relationships that she formed with pastors and parishioners were important to her throughout her life.
Nancy is preceded in death by her husband, Harlan “Hank” Garner, her parents, Robert and Blanche Brown; her brother, Robert Brown; sisters, Patsy O’Neal and Margaret Ann Connell; niece, Betty Ann Richards. Nancy and Harlan did not have children of their own, but she leaves behind to cherish her memory her nieces and nephews, their families, and many friends. The family includes her nephews, James Brown, Larry O’Neal (Margaret), Pat Brown (Diana), and Steve Connell. Nieces surviving her are Peggy O’Neal and Beth Holliman (Jim). She also leaves a beloved nephew -in-law, Tom Richards. In addition, she leaves nine great nieces and nephews, six great great nieces and nephews and her god children, Ginger Henshaw and Katie Stowe.
Nancy had many friends, some who have gone before her, and some left to remember her. The family wishes to acknowledge and thank all those in the Gurley community that shared time, food, fun, beauty shop talks, and bridge games with her. Special thanks to Mary Louise, Glen Stowe and Sherry Bice, truly gifts from God.
Nancy was born on May 23, 1931 in Kingston, Tennessee and lived there with her family until they moved to Jackson County where she spent the remainder of her life. She grew up a tomboy who was, and remained, active outdoors most of her life. She loved fishing, horseback riding, growing and putting up vegetables, and playing bridge. She especially enjoyed the time she and Harlan spent on their houseboat on Goose Pond. In her later years, Nancy enjoyed researching the family genealogy and sharing her findings with the family. She loved telling her family all the stories of her childhood on Hiawassee Island in Tennessee and the farm in Paint Rock Valley, and escapades from her youth. Her stories also included love of her work and Redstone Arsenal. As her short term memory slipped away, these stories and remembrances of family and friends taken too soon became her daily conversation. The memories that she shared of those times will last into the next generation and after. The family is so grateful to have had her as part of our lives for so long. We rest easy knowing that as a “good and faithful servant” she is resting in her Savior’s arms
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to Gurley United Methodist Church, 121 College Street, Gurley, Alabama 35748 or to your favorite charity.
