Nancy Holt Austere

1935 - 2016

Nancy is the mother of five sons, sister to two brothers, grandmother to six grandchildren and "family" to countless adopted sons, daughters, grandchildren and others from around the world who have benefited from her love and benevolence. It is true that Mom/Nancy "specialized" in having a positive impact on people's lives.
Born of Cheyenne Sooner heritage and raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Nancy also lived many years in both California and Europe before returning to her beloved Bartlesville. While raising her five boys in California – Lee, Ladd, Leslie, Lyn and Lou – it was common for her to pack everyone into her VW Bus and camp from coast to coast or from California to the beaches of Mexico, seeing at ground level what North America has to offer.
From California Nancy moved to Heidelberg, Germany where she spent almost 20 years during the height of the cold war working at the Headquarters for the United States Army Europe. She traveled Eastern and Western Europe extensively adding significantly to her international set of lifelong friends.
She was worldly, well read, artistic, opinionated, a thespian, a dancer, a cold war warrior, mother and provider of shelter to many beyond her five sons.
Last June we celebrated Nancy's 80th birthday in Bartlesville with a gathering of more than 60 friends and family from around the world. Family and guests came from as far away as Russia, Europe, Australia, and California. Mom had the time of her life and did not stop talking about how wonderful it was to see everyone. She has since carried a group picture taken during her birthday dinner at Luigi's Restaurant and cherished it until her final day.
Nancy, who is just as well known as "Mom or Grandmom", won in the all-important stakes associated with living a full and well-lived life. She is loved by all and leaves a hole in the hearts and minds of many.