Nancy Keltner

1940 - 2025

Nancy Rickey Keltner was born January 8, 1940, to Wesley Branch Rickey, Jr and Mary Iams Rickey and left us suddenly on October 17, 2025. She is survived by her husband John, her sons John, Brent and Carter, her siblings Caroline Hughes and Branch Rickey (III), six grandchildren Ben, Aiden, John Henry, Anna, Kai and Kiana, not to mention countless additional family members and dear friends. Nancy was born in St. Louis, Missouri, raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University. She married John a year after graduation and began a life committed to family, service and adventure. Nancy was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin, friend and community advocate.In the nearly fifty years that Nancy and John lived in Davis, she devoted herself to countless community causes. Her work on the "Send Our Strings to Vienna" campaign for the Davis High Orchestra participation in an international music festival, co-founding of the consignment shop All Things Right and Relevant with profits donated to local mental health organizations, as well as board roles with the Yolo Community Care Continuum and other mental health agencies were among the most noteworthy. For six years Nancy wrote a column for the Davis Enterprise answering teen questions. Her many contributions to the community were recognized in 1992 when she was chosen "Davis Citizen of the Year." Nancy and John considered themselves "part-time" Canadians. They loved nothing more than to spend their summers surrounded by grandchildren and extended family in the Georgian Bay and on Vancouver Island. In addition to her volunteer passion and commitment to family, Nancy will be remembered for her energy, her smile, her laughter and her desire to leave the world a better place. Nancy hoped that in her memory we do any simple act of kindness for someone and embrace one of her favorite sayings: "Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen." At her request memorial donations may be made for Nero-ophthalmological research to the UC Davis Eye Institute, Nancy Keltner Memorial Research Fund by mail or online. Mail: Please make a check payable to UC Davis Foundation and mail it to: UC Davis Health Sciences Development & Alumni Relations PO Box 160186 Sacramento, CA 95816, and write Nancy Keltner Memorial Research Fund in memo line. On line: Please visit website: give.ucdavis.edu/go/NancyKeltner
Celebration of Nancy's Life will be held at the Veteran's Memorial Center on January 17, 2026 at 1:00-4:00 p.m.