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Nancy D. Pyle, 75, of Norman passed from this earth on Monday, May 23rd, 2016 after a long and courageous battle.  She was surrounded by her loving family, including all her grandchildren. Nancy was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, and a friend and caregiver to many. She loved deeply, was creative, feisty, courageous, and had an infectious sense of humor.  She loved to sew, quilt, cook, sing and dance, and had an exuberant love of life.  Nancy loved children and animals- even naming the squirrels and birds that frequented her yard.  Her childhood dream was to be a mother and have a family, having spent her youth babysitting her cousin Barbie. After being told she couldn’t have children, she was blessed with a family - two daughters within 11 months.  Her love of family, and commitment to caring for others were constants throughout her life.

Nancy Dashiell was born on February 3, 1941 in Wilmington, Delaware to Lewis and Catherine (Daisey) Dashiell. She met the love of her life, William Russell (Russ) Pyle, as a junior high student, and was blessed with over 53 years of marriage. Nancy graduated from Wilmington High School in 1959, where she was an honor student, member of the Leader Corp, and president of the choir. Along with her future husband, she was chosen to speak at commencement. In 1958, following her junior year in high school, she was chosen to be an American Field Service (AFS) exchange student to Switzerland, and had a transformational experience that would later lead her to host three different year-long foreign exchange students. She was graduated from Delaware Hospital School of Nursing in 1962, and married Russ in August of 1962. Nan then moved to Florida, where she started her nursing career while Russ finished his degree at the University of Florida. They returned to Delaware in 1963, and she began work as a full-time labor and delivery nurse. Nursing was her vocation, but care-giving was Nancy’s lifelong passion, and gift to this world.  A doctor she worked with noted that she was the best nurse he’d had the honor of working with. She achieved her dream of having a family in 1967 with the birth of her first daughter, Stephanie. The family grew in 1968 with their second daughter Melanie.  Russ’ promotion in 1976 relocated the family to Oklahoma. Nancy continued her life passions, not only working in the hospital and surgi-center, but also caring for her mother-in-law, and Russ’ grandfather in the home.  Whether bringing babies into the world, or helping others leave this confine, Nancy ensured they were surrounded by love and support. In 1997 Nancy’s kidneys began to fail from polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and she never dreamed she would get to meet her grandchildren. But with the incredible gift of a kidney transplant from her sister, she experienced over 19 years of being Granny to her five grandchildren.  They all have great memories of cooking, laughing, dancing, and generally being spoiled by Granny. The 19 years were always looked at as a gift, and one of the greatest was being able to strengthen the relationship she and her sister shared. They traveled frequently to explore the world and share their passions.  Nancy even infected Kathy with her love of quilting. Together they made quilts for grandchildren, Quilts of Valor, and for friends and family. Her quilting buddies were a great source of comfort and friendship. Nancy adored her family, and cooking was one way she showed her love. The holidays and Christmas were her specialty, and she loved baking cookies, decorating, and living the holiday to the fullest. God packaged a bundle of fire and energy into her small frame. She was larger than life. Many were drawn to her enthusiasm and love of life, and she had many friends and support groups. She had a deep, abiding love for her husband. She was honored to be able to be a home-maker and support his career. They loved to travel, watch old movies, play cards and games with friends and family, and spend time with their children and grandchildren. Despite considerable health challenges, she was courageous and not only persevered, but triumphed; she would not be beaten by pain, and had zest for life until the end.

Surviving Nancy are her husband Russ, her sister Kathy and family, and her two daughter’s families: Stephanie & Bill Chissoe (grandchildren Billy & Russell) of Gig Harbor, WA, Melanie & Mark Darrow of Norman (grandchildren Kevin & Blake, and Kayla & Lance Baldwin of Oahu, Hawaii), Kathy and Denny Barrowclough, and families of Hockessin, DE: Lou and Brent Montgomery (Jake and Trevor Hoffman), Lori and Rod Hoffman (Casey and Carly), Adam and Tara Barrowclough (Emma and Matthew), and Aaron and Laura Barrowclough.  Nancy is also survived by her uncle, Russell Daisey and wife Evelyn, her nieces Deb (Dashiell) & Mick Warner, and Christine (Dashiell) Johnson, and Pam & Jerry Wright, and their families.  Also her international exchange daughters Marina Jaeger, Svetlana Nikolovska, and Ayse Guclu Onur and her family. She is survived by her much loved dogs Maggie and Lyric, as well as numerous extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, step-father Tom Farrow, her husband’s mother Jessie Pyle, and her husband’s grandparents, William Bell and Martha H. Russell, her brother O. Louis Dashiell, sister-in-law, Shirley Dashiell, and step-brother Tom Farrow.

The family would like to thank the expert and caring doctors, nurses and care givers in Norman, Oklahoma City and Johns Hopkins in Baltimore including Dr. Tom Merrill, Nurse Pam Levy, Dr. Gregory Parker, Dr. Bill Harris. Dr. Azhar Kahn, Dr. James Black, Dr. Mark Moses and the Integris Emergency Room, ICU and the Hospice House. 

The family would also like to thank the Merrill Lynch family for the love and support they received. A service celebrating her life will be 10:30 AM, Friday, May 27, 2016 at First Christian Church, Norman, OK with a private graveside service following. Services will be officiated by Rev. David Spain.  Family will receive friends on Thursday, May 26, 2016 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Havenbrook Funeral Home.

The family requests donations be made in Nan’s honor to PKD Foundation, 8330 Ward Parkway- Suite 510, Kansas City, MO 64114.