Nancy Joy Tierce

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Nancy Joy Tierce was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 10, 2025 surrounded by her loving husband and two daughters.  Having suffered from dementia for more than a decade, she is now free from her earthly body, face to face with Jesus, reunited with precious family members, and likely entertaining them all with stories, anecdotes, and laughter, as she loved to do here on earth.

Nancy was born on August 13, 1936, in San Marcos, TX, to Johnnie Ruth and James “Big Wallace” Gary, Sr..  She, along with her older brother Wallace Gary, Jr., was reared in Rankin and San Marcos, Texas, where they enjoyed the blessings of a large extended family with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins being a constant in their lives.  Nancy graduated from Tivy High School in Kerrville, TX in 1955 and went on to attend business school in San Angelo, TX.

Upon graduation, Nancy settled in Midland, Texas, where she led a busy life.  She worked as a secretary at Plymouth Oil Company.  Additionally, she participated in several beauty pageants, winning the titles of Miss Cotton in the Miss West Texas and Miss Congeniality in a preliminary competition for the Miss America Pageant in 1960.  Most importantly, one day during a coffee break at a local cafe, Nancy met the love of her life, Charlie Tierce.  He swept her off her feet as the man of her dreams. And they established their family roots in Midland, where they spent all but one year of their 66-year marriage.

Nancy and Charlie were married February 25, 1961, at the First United Methodist Church in Rankin, and welcomed twin daughters, Christy and Tracy Tierce, April 20, 1962.  Nancy treasured being a wife and mother more than anything, and when she had grandchildren, she exhibited a whole new level of love.  She attended school programs, sporting events, dance recitals, and created all kinds of events to make memories with her daughters and their families.

The Christian faith that her grandmothers instilled in her as a child was evident in her participation as an adult life-long member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. While Nancy immersed herself in many Bible studies, she most enjoyed attending Bible Study Fellowship with her adult daughters. Her walk with Christ was exhibited in the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control she displayed toward all she knew.

Friends and loved ones were a huge part of Nancy’s life.  Congeniality was her nature.  Anyone who lived near the Tierces became family friends with them.  Some of Nancy’s best friends were the parents of her children’s friends, and in later life, those children considered Nancy to be one of their best friends, too.  She belonged to the same bridge group for more than 50 years, she met weekly to play golf with friends, and she and Charlie participated in a couples dinner group for years.  Nancy was a talented artist and an accomplished cook.  Her God-given gift of hospitality served to bless her family and dear friends—especially during holidays, special occasions, and times of need. And while she might be hosting dozens in her home, she never appeared frazzled or stressed.  She would take time to drink a cup of coffee and visit.  Her conversational skills endeared her to many in the way she listened intently, counseled compassionately, and found humor in the mundane.

Nancy was a perfectionist in many ways.  She used her skills from business school, keeping exceptional books for Charlie when he founded Shanee Oil Corporation in 1976.  And she used her artist’s eye and skills she learned from her carpenter/builder dad to design and decorate the family’s homes.  Details were important for Nancy from the smallest decimal number to the curbing of her flowerbeds to the coffee cups matching the wallpaper in her breakfast room!  And she loved every minute of each endeavor.

Charlie and Nancy traveled extensively once their daughters graduated from high school.  Even though they traveled the world, they especially enjoyed time in Horseshoe Bay, TX, Ruidoso, NM, and Durango, CO, where they spent time playing golf, snow skiing, playing card games and dominos, and making memories to treasure for a lifetime.

Nancy is survived by the most important people in her life: her loving husband of 66 years Charles R. Tierce, daughters Christy Dupriest (Gary) and Tracy Coggan (Kent) all of Midland.  She is also survived by the seven grandchildren who cherished their Nana:  Ryan Dupriest (Megan), Laramie Coggan (Kelsi), Tyler Dupriest (Constance), Kyle Coggan, Christian Coggan, Tuesdee Coggan Pradon (Derek), and Kayla Dupriest Parkhurst (David). And her legacy continues with her 10 great-grandchildren: Jackson, Piper, and Graham Dupriest; Mason and Judge Dupriest; Hudson and Ellie Parkhurst; Sutton and Charlotte Pradon; and River Coggan.  Her sister-in-law Janet Tierce Smith (Gary) and large extended family, including nieces, a nephew, their children, and dozens of cousins will miss her, too.

Nancy was preceded in death by her father James Wallace Gary, Sr. (Ruth), her mother Johnnie Ruth Walker (Ted), her brother James Wallace Gary, Jr. (Carol), her in-laws Leona and Willard Richard Tierce, her brother-in-law Bill Tierce, and a host of extended family.

The Tierce family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to those who helped care for Nancy during her declining years.  Yolanda Guzman and Sara Lucia Herrerra assisted Nancy and provided support for Charlie daily for many years.  Mackie Lujan and Stacey Lujan could always be trusted to fill in when Yolanda and Sara were not available.  And the family owes profound gratitude to one of Nancy’s most reliable confidants, her hairdresser of more than 40 years, Corina Urias.  Even after Corina retired from her business, she continued to come to Nancy’s home to fix her hair.

The funeral service will be held at the Branch at Nalley-Pickle and Welch Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 15^th at 2:00pm. A private graveside service will be held at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango, CO at a later date. Memorials can be made to one of Nancy’s favorite charities, St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

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