Nancy Irene Gilkey

Nancy Irene Gilkey (Davies) September 3, 1957 – January 19, 2025
Nancy Irene Gilkey, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 19, 2025, after a courageous battle with Corticobasal Degeneration, a rare neurodegenerative disorder.
Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on September 3, 1957, to Jessie and AE Davies, Nancy graduated in 1976 from Mary Carroll High School in Corpus Christi. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas in Austin in 1980, where she met her future husband, Glenn Gilkey. They met in the spring of 1977 and dated all through college and married on April 4, 1981, in Austin. Together they shared a love for travel, family, and community. Nancy and Glenn enjoyed a life full of adventure, including living in the Netherlands and trips to Europe, India, Africa, China, and many family vacations to Mexico. Nancy had a special fondness for Europe and especially Italy. She also fondly remembered her travels with Glenn to the Great Wall of China and to India, where she had the unique experience of riding an elephant.
Nancy's nursing career spanned several decades, and she was particularly passionate about nursing quality management, where she enjoyed working with doctors in the hospital setting. She dedicated herself to the care of others, starting her nursing career in 1980 and continuing until 2009. She only took a brief pause during the family's time living in the Netherlands in 2000 to 2002.
As a mother, Nancy's love for her daughters, Jennifer and Melissa, was unwavering. She was a devoted and involved parent, leading their Girl Scout troop and planning family vacations. She instilled in her daughters the values of honesty, kindness, compassion, and fairness. Nancy's pride and joy expanded with the arrival of her three granddaughters, Vivienne, Laurel, and Fiona. She adored them and took great pride in watching them grow and enjoyed their hugs when they visited.
Nancy's leadership extended beyond her family and career. She was an active member of Joy Lutheran Church in Richmond, Texas, and contributed her time and organizational skills to several community groups, including the Girl Scouts, UT Texas exes, and the Newcomers group in South Lake, Texas.
Nancy is preceded in death by her parents, AE and Jessie Davies, and her sister-in-law, Cynthia Gilkey. She is survived by her loving husband of 44 years, Glenn Gilkey; daughters Jennifer Smith and Melissa Russell; grandchildren Vivienne and Laurel Smith, and Fiona Russell; her brother Dave Davies; sisters Donna Davies and Gail Wagner; and several nieces and nephews.
Throughout her illness, Glenn was Nancy's primary caregiver, devoting himself to her well-being. Nancy faced her diagnosis with remarkable courage, grace, and strength. She never allowed negativity or anger to diminish her spirit. Even in her final days, her eyes remained bright, and her hugs, full of love, were a lasting comfort to her family. As Nancy once said to Glenn, "Don't cry too much when I'm gone, hug your girls and smile because you know I have lived a blessed life." It is this legacy of love, faith, and positivity that will live on in those who knew her.
Nancy's service will be Friday January 24th at Ramsey Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas. Nancy's ashes will be interred at private service at Remembrance Gardens on Saturday.
In 2016, Nancy and Glenn established an endowed scholarship fund at the University of Texas at Austin in Mechanical Engineering and Nursing to support students. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to support the Glenn and Nancy Gilkey Endowed Scholarship in Mechanical Engineering and Nursing. Please contact Margaret Scott margaret.scott@austin.utexas.edu at the University of Texas for assistance.