Nancy Rivers

Nancy was born to Dewey and Leona Hammons at their home in Ludlow, Kentucky on March 12, 1939. She had seven brothers and two sisters. She attended elementary and secondary schools in Ludlow, graduating from Ludlow High School in 1956. Post-secondary education was obtained at the University of Kentucky (Northern and Lexington campuses), University of West Virginia and Western Kentucky University.

Nancy began her employment career as a teller at the Ludlow Bank following her graduation from high school. After her marriage in December, 1960, she served in administrative positions in a variety of organizations including the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Purdue University School of Veterinary Science, Mingo County (WV) Development Corporation and Hospital Affiliates International. Following a move to Waco in 1981, she served as an administrative assistant at Word, Inc. until 1989. She was then employed in Scott and White's Waco Clinic until 1997 when she was made manager of Scott and White's O.B.-Gyn. Clinic located in Providence Hospital. She remained in that position until her retirement in November, 2000.

From Nancy's second decade, muscular dystrophy gradually, inexorably deprived her of mobility, confining her to a wheel chair during her last fifteen years. Though her physical strength slowly ebbed, she was lifted and sustained by the love and encouragement of her husband, family and friends. Her undaunted spirit cast off the chains of disability to soar on the wings of her poetry of joy, love and light. Her remarkable intelligence, wisdom, compassion, love of life, unyielding contention with adversity, rejection of bitterness and unquenchable love of God are ever present in her poems, prayers and stories. She took pleasure in adapting, coping and living well despite her body's failing strength. In so doing, she attained a victory of the spirit through an exemplary life of courage that inspired all who knew and loved her.

~ Ad Astra Per Aspera ~

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and one sister. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, David L. Rivers; sister: Martha Daly; and brothers: Eugene, Charles, Harold and Edwin Hammons and many well and truly loved nieces and nephews.

Nancy's Life will be celebrated in a memorial service that will be held at Lake Shore Baptist Church, where she was a member, on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 2:00 P.M.

Memorial donations to the Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center's Hospice Program and the Muscular Dystrophy Association are encouraged.