Nancy Thompson Smith

Nancy Thompson Smith died peacefully at home on June 24, 2024, surrounded by family and friends. 

Memorial services will be at 2:00 PM, Thursday, June 27, 2024 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, with The Reverend Jo Roberts Craig and The Reverend Jared Houze officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. 

Nancy was born November 2, 1939, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Ellen Dorsey Thompson and Thorleif "Swampy" Thompson. She was the youngest of their three children. Nancy enjoyed a wonderful childhood with her brother, Skipper, and sister, Linda. Nancy enjoyed spending summer days with family and childhood friends at the beach on the Bolivar Peninsula. The Thompson family loved traveling to Austin each fall to watch the Texas Longhorns. Nancy's father, Swampy, was the first person to kickoff at Memorial Stadium on Thanksgiving Day 1924, a game commemorating the Texas veterans of World War I. 

Nancy's maternal grandparents were descendants of the Republic of Texas, and her paternal grandparents immigrated from Norway through Galveston in 1897. She was proud of both ancestries. Nancy followed in the footsteps of her father and siblings to attend the University of Texas at Austin. In college, Nancy was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, a Texas Cowboy Sweetheart, and a Sweetheart of the University of Texas.

Nancy met her future husband, Bub Smith, of Amarillo, at the University of Texas. Nancy graduated from UT in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. On June 10, 1961, Nancy and Bub were married in Port Arthur. After marriage, they moved to Bub's hometown. Nancy loved the mountains and spending time in Colorado and New Mexico, snow skiing, and spending summers with family and friends. As a grandparent, Nancy loved spending time with her seven cherished grandchildren.

Nancy loved to read and always had two or three books going at a time, revealing her interest in history and her love of learning. Nancy was meticulous with her needlepoint, a hobby she enjoyed for many years. 

Nancy was a member of the Junior League of Amarillo, Garden Club, and the Amarillo Museum of Art. She loved going to the Amarillo Symphony with friends and enjoyed her Canasta group. Nancy was a devoted Episcopalian and member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, where she served on the Altar Guild for many years and, later, the Flower Guild. 

Nancy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Allen Currie "Bub" Smith, in 2011; her parents, Ellen and Thorleif "Swampy" Thompson; her brother, Thorleif "Skipper" Thompson, Jr. and her sister, Linda Thompson Spangler, and brother-in-law Richard "Dick" Spangler.

Nancy is survived by her children: daughter Ellen Smith Bivins and her husband, Mark Ernest Bivins; son Allen Currie Smith, Jr., and his wife, Jussen Campbell Smith; and son Dale Alexander Smith and his wife, Caroline Dulle Smith. Her seven beloved grandchildren: Emily Sinclair Bivins and Miles Truscott Bivins; Virginia "Ginny" Katherine Smith and Thompson "Tom" Currie Smith; Clara Murrin Smith, Luke Thompson Smith, and Henry Alexander Smith. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Sinclair “Claire” Smith Siragusa, and her husband, John Robert “Jack” Siragusa; her sisters-in-law, Dorianne Thompson and Haruko Thompson; nieces, Karen Thompson, Lisa Thompson, and Frances Thompson: nephews, Chris Spangler, and John Siragusa, niece, Cinnie Siragusa, as well as many wonderful cousins and grand nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express our sincerest appreciation to the wonderful doctors, nurses, caregivers, and special friends who took care of Nancy in her last years and the BSA Hospice team who graciously helped care for Nancy.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1601 S. Georgia St., Amarillo, TX 79102, Opportunity Plan, Inc., 504 24th St., P.O. Box 1035, Canyon, TX 79015, the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) 225 N. Michigan Ave, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or a favorite charity.