Billy Nance

Billy M. "Bill" Nance, 82, of Cape Girardeau, Mo. died Sunday, July 25, 2010 at Missouri Veteran's Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born September 21, 1927 in Newport, Ark. to Grover C. and Annie Lee Hutchens Nance. He and the former Delphin Lee Gray Nance were married for 55 years. Bill served three years active duty in the Air Force and was honorably discharged as a Technical Sergeant January, 1949. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the USAF Reserve and was discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1959. He attended public schools in Newport, Ark. and was named to the 1945 All-State Arkansas High School Football Team. He was a graduate of Little Rock Junior College in Little Rock, Ark. where he lettered in football and baseball and was a member of the Junior College National Championship football squad in 1949. He earned a BSE from University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark. and a MSE from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark., and completed Advanced Graduate Study from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, Tenn.. Bill had been both a coach and teacher in the Arkansas public schools at Pocahontas, Truman and Wynne. He was also a football and track coach and instructor at schools in Hayti and Portageville, Mo. He was Portageville High School principal from 1968-70. He also served as supervising principal from 1970-71 and Unit Administrator in charge from 1971-86 of the Portageville Unit of the New Madrid County Reorganized School District #1 Enlarged. Bill was a member of Missouri State Teachers Association, National Education Association, Community Teachers Association, Phi Delta Kappa. He was Secretary-Treasurer of Southeast Missouri Activities Association 1966-67 and became the organization's president 1975-76. From 1972-73 he was president of the Lion's Club in Portageville. He was baptized in the Protestant faith and was affiliated with the Church of Christ. Survivors include his wife, Delphin Lee Nance of Cape Girardeau; one daughter, Diane (Scott) Buescher of Jackson, Mo.; two sons, Bill (Kay) Nance, Jr. of New Madrid, Mo, Gary (Denise) Nance of Davison, Mich.; three grandchildren, Chris Nance of Sikeston, Mo., Travis Nance of Davison, Mich., Ben Buescher of Jackson, Mo.; two step-grandchildren, Danielle (Richard) Hankinson of Centreville, Va., Joshua (Allison) Albert of Kalaska, Mich.; two great-stepgrandchildren, Alexandria Hankinson and Henry Albert; one sister, Joan Brown, Overland Park, Kan. He was preceded in death by his parents; stepson, Morris Waller; three brothers, Jessie, Gus, and G.C. Nance; one sister, Lois Adcox. There is no visitation. Graveside services will be at 10:00 AM Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo. Full military honors will be provided by Missouri Honors Team. Memorial contributions may be given to Missouri Veterans Cemetery, P.O. Box 566, 17357 Stars & Stripes Way, Bloomfield, Mo. 63825 or Missouri Veterans Home, 2400 Veterans Memorial Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.

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Billy Nance

July 25, 2010