Nancy Rains Durham

Durham, Nancy Rains

born on July 3, 1932, passed away peacefully on June 13, 2023.

She was the third of four children raised by Stanley and Ethel Rains, who in the early 1920's settled in the small coal mining community of West Frankfort, Illinois. Her small-town roots instilled strong family values and a tireless work ethic that helped shape her life.

During her school years, Nancy was a high school honor student, and majorette in the marching band before heading to college and graduating with honors from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, a rarity for women in that era.

It was in 9th grade that she met John Durham, the love of her life. John, the football star, and Nancy, the homecoming queen, they became a truly "All American" couple. They married in 1954 and embarked on a love affair that spanned over seven decades.

They left rural Illinois for the "big city" of St. Louis, where they raised three children. John built a thriving dental practice while Nancy raised the kids, driving them all over creation for music lessons and sports practices and games, still finding time to do volunteer work and sing in the church choir. After her children were grown, she worked alongside John, running their office for over thirty years, while still running the house. When her husband of 55 years passed away in 2009, she returned to her volunteer work, maintained her legendary workout routine (literally until the day that she died), and was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved to read, watch Purdue sports of any kind and, of course, bake her famous chocolate chip cookies and birthday cakes for family and friends.

Our mom had a great life, which she lived with class, elegance and grace, and will be remembered most for her kindness, dedication to family, unassuming nature and classic beauty.

She is preceded in death by her parents Stanley and Ethel Rains, her siblings Dorothy Starkweather, Betty Armstrong, and Marilyn Coleman, and her husband John.

She is survived by children Dianne Durham, Laura (Allan) Goodloe, David (Ann) Durham, grandchildren Katherine Durham, John Durham, Allan (Nit) Goodloe III, Carrie (Kyle) Chapman, Emily Goodloe and great-grandchildren Parker and Ryder Goodloe, and Will, Hall, Katy and Gray Chapman, as well as multiple nieces and nephews.

Charitable donations in her honor to St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis are welcomed. See boppchapel.com