Nancy A. Garner

Nancy A. Garner of Belton, Texas, passed away Friday, May 16, after a brief illness at the age of 94.

Nancy was born Aug. 8, 1930, in a San Antonio hospital to Buford L. Wilson and Ivey Belle (Peel) Wilson, who lived in the South Texas farming community of Yancey south of Hondo in Medina County.

She married Walter L. “Bill” Garner of Belton in 1948 and made her home as a young bride in Bell County. They were married for 63 years, until her husband’s death on Sept. 2, 2011. He retired from the Bell County Road Department and was in the road construction business for many years.

She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was known as “Aunt Nancy” to her many Wilson and Garner relatives and as “Nana” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She never met a stranger and was blessed with an indomitable spirit and a kind heart.

She was preceded in death by her loving daughter, Anne Garner Young, who died on Aug. 27, 2019.

She is survived by her son, Wilson Lynn Garner, and his wife, Nancy; her son-in-law, Robert N. Young and her two grandsons: Nathan Young and his wife Jennifer and great-grandson Rob; and Zachary Young and his wife Shelley and great-grandchildren Wyatt and Paisley.

Nancy was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church of Belton, where she enjoyed serving in many capacities and deepened her faith over many decades. She mentored young children in the Belton school reading programs for many years.

She was a graduate of Yancey High School. Her classmates continued to gather from across the state for annual reunions well into their golden years.

She was an accomplished pianist, learning early from her mother, who was pianist for the Yancey First United Methodist Church. In her later years, she looked forward to her monthly luncheons with her lifelong circle of friends, many of whom took trips together across the country to Nashville, Branson and Hawaii.

She was a longtime member of United Methodist Women, serving in many leadership roles. She joined UMW in 1951 and retired from the board in 2018.

She enjoyed singing in the choir and being a “prayer warrior” on the prayer chain.

In remarks to the congregation, she gave witness to her faith: “Remember we make the church and this is God’s house. We are caretakers, after all, in the grand scheme of things. We’re only here for a short while. What will be written of our history? May it be we learned from our heritage, were good stewards, grew with grace in our faith, remembering those who will follow.”

A visitation is planned for Tuesday, May 20, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Belton at 10 a.m. Wednesday May 21, followed by a reception. Burial will be in the North Belton Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Belton, the North Belton Cemetery Association, the Belton High School Educational Foundation, or a charity of one’s choice.

Hebrews 11:1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.