Leon Nance

1936 - 2016

Leon Nance

San Angelo

Leon Clinton Nance went home to join his loving family on July 26, 2016.

Leon was born at home Sept. 19, 1936, in Pear Valley, Texas, to Edd Holle Nance and Annie Pearl Wyndham Nance. The day the drought broke with San Angelo being flooded, the planned birth place for Leon was San Angelo; therefore he was born at home on the family farm, the fourth child born to his parents.

He graduated from Lohn High School in 1955, where he excelled on the six-man football team for the Lohn Eagles. He was a popular young man and was admired by both the faculty and students. Leon was a member of the Future Farmers of America and roped calves in the country wide rodeo. He had a great love of horses, the outdoors, and the rural way of life. He attended San Angelo Junior College.

He was a member of Silver City, New Mexico, Consolidated School Board of Education, a member of the New Mexico High School Rodeo Association Board-serving as President, American Quarter Horse Association, New Mexico Junior Rodeo Association, and New Mexico Cattle Grower's Association, Texas Cattle Raiser's Association, and the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association where he served on the Sale Committee for 20+ years after retiring. He actively sponsored youth organizations. He was honored by Future Farmers of America as an Honorary Chapter Farmer. He also was a member of Mason & Shriner's.

He was employed by New Mexico Sheep Sanitary Board State Inspector. Then transferred to USDA Dept of Animal Disease Eradication Laboratory and then later transferred to the US Forest Service as Ranger on the Gila Wilderness National Forest. His most recent career was ranching and real estate. He became a realtor in farm and land property and formed Ranch Land Co (licensed since 1964) which became his legacy.

He was married 57 years to Billie Joyce Norman Nance and together they raised their daughter, Sunni Lynn Nance. Leon was a very generous and loving husband, son, brother, father, uncle, and grandfather. Spending time with his family was the joy and strength of his life. He followed a long live family tradition of Methodist. He was a member of San Angelo First United Methodist Church.

Mr. Nance was preceded in death by his parents, Edd and Annie; his brother, Eddie; and his two sisters, Edna and Stella.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Nance; his daughter, Sunni Lynn Nance Gothard; son-in-law Courtney Gothard; and granddaughter Summerain Nance Gothard, the love of his life, of Blackwell. Also left to cherish his memory are nieces Cheryl Jackson of Albuquerque, Gwen King of Katy, Paulette Melton of Fort Worth; nephew Wayne Holle Cooke; and cousins Debra Nance, Harlan Nance; and Alvin Bolton; as well as other loving family and friends.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2016, at Harper Funeral Home. The funeral service is at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 2016, in Harper Funeral Home chapel with burial to follow in Pear Valley Cemetery.

Those who desire, Leon has requested in lieu of flowers donations be made to Shriner's Crippled Children's Hospital to benefit other children in learning to walk. Shriner's Children Hospital 6977 Main St. Houston, TX 77030, (713) 797-1616.