Nancy Jane Burleson Thornburg Oliver, 81 from Mesquite Texas peacefully passed away in her home on November 5th. After a courageous 15-year battle with breast cancer, she has finally gone home to be with her Graceful God.
Nancy was born August 31, 1935 in Dallas Texas. Abandoned as a baby, she was raised in a foster home by Orville and Tula Johnson in Urbandale, East Dallas. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School.
Nancy married P. A. Thornburg in 1956 and they had two children who were the light of her life. Through the years Nancy worked as an Administrative Assistant in a law firm and then with several different hospitals in the Dallas area. She shared that her very favorite job was with Mesquite Physicians Hospital where she felt she was with family.
Nancy met Doyle Oliver, her soulmate, and they were married in 1990. This brought together two families as if they had always been one. She and Doyle loved to travel together especially enjoying the mountains of Colorado and the beaches of Panama City Beach, FL.
Nancy loved the Presbyterian Church and was a charter member of Faith Presbyterian Church in Omaha, Nebraska. She was a long time member of Northminster Presbyterian Church and Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX. She served as an Elder, Deacon, and a beloved Sunday School teacher for many years.
Nancy was preceded in death by her former husband P. A. Thornburg and stepdaughter Staci Oliver Newton. She is survived by husband Doyle Oliver of Mesquite, TX; son Rev. P. Alex Thornburg and wife Dr. Teresa M. Bear of Des Moines IA; daughter Julia Thornburg Dane and husband Bob Dane of Dallas TX; stepdaughter Terri McDougald and husband Eddie McDougald of Watauga TX. She is survived by many loving grandchildren - Noah and Emma Thornburg, Joe Bailey, Katie and Karli Malone, Shelbi and Mitchel Newton and by one great grandchild, Gianna Malone. Nancy is also survived by sister Wanda Dantzler, brother James Burleson, stepmother Dorothy Yarborough and stepsister Patricia Thornburg Yarborough along with several loving nieces and nephews.
Nancy experienced the faithfulness of God throughout her life and was a gracious servant of her Lord. She was generous, kind, and full of life. More than anything, she loved her family and friends.
A Celebration service for Nancy will be held on Wednesday November 9th at 10:30 am at Eastminster Presbyterian Church located 6550 Samuell Blvd, Dallas TX 75228
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nancy Oliver Memorial Fund at Eastminster Presbyterian Church or any Breast Cancer Awareness group.
Memorial Service
NOV 9. 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM (CST)
Eastminster Presbyterian Church
6550 Samuell Blvd.
Dallas, TX, 75228
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