Nancy was my oldest sister (of course, she was the oldest sibling :-) ). When were kids I really didn't know her very well as she was 6 years older than me. As a kid that's a very large number. I'm sure, when we were kids, I was probably the main pain in her side. Once she graduated from high school and moved out on her own we definitely got closer. We (Mary, Mom and I) had moved to Sioux City, Iowa during the summer of 73 and there were several times we visited Omaha that summer. I stayed with Nancy 1 of those times and that was the time she moved from "only my sister" to my friend and my sister, I was 13 then; she was 19.
We moved to Colorado in December of that year and I really didn't see very much of Nancy until I got out of high school and went into the Navy. I visited her in Omaha when I was on leave one time. Her new boyfriend picked me up at the airport, she had just met him less than a week before that. That night we went out partying and we definitely got our money's worth. We pretty much stayed out all night and had some adventures that Nancy's new boyfriend would definitely remember. I learned 2 things that night (and into the next morning) that Nancy's new boyfriend was a REALLY nice guy and that he must REALLY care about her to put up with her crazy brother. By now I'm sure you've guessed that the "new" boyfriend was Allen and they ended up being together for a very long time.
I have many memories of my sister Nancy, and the thing that is laced through all of them are how generous and real she was. You always knew where you stood with her and she didn't mince words. Those are 2 things in life very few people will give you. I'm so sad that she has passed as she should still be here with us. I know though, that she doesn't have to live with pain any more. I will truly miss her!