Nancy Ann Meyer lived a life that can only be described as remarkable by the grace of God. On December 17th, 2022, God granted Nancy her Angel Wings and called her home. Despite many illnesses that defied the odds of survivability, Nancy’s sense of purpose had her trying to make a difference up until the very end. She passed away inspiring awe among those who were fortunate to have known her, even if for a short while. A lady of uncommon character, she lived a life uncommon.

Nancy was born on January 7, 1942 to Richard and Dorothy Murphy in Livingston, Montana. The second oldest of five siblings, Nancy pushed the boundaries of small town living and craved adventure to the chagrin of her parents and disapproving nuns at St. Mary’s Parochial School. Her desire to smoke cigarettes and speak out against any perceived injustice conflicted with her desire to be a nun - she just couldn’t conform.

As a young adult, Nancy would throw a dart at a map and hop on a bus by herself or with a friend to go live - Vegas, Chicago, and Phoenix, to name a few. Her bravery could be contributed to travels by herself at an early age to the Shrine Hospital in Minnesota by train to treat a club foot - where she recuperated for lonely weeks and sometimes months on end without her family by her side. Not one to make a fuss, she made the best of it by making mischief and making friends with the children in iron lungs, those with handicaps beyond imagination, and keeping the motherless tiny babies lined up in cribs soothed and entertained as she wandered the halls of the hospital without supervision. Nancy’s gift was to give to those less fortunate.

Nancy settled down and married Frank Meyer on April 1st, 1965. All the buttons on her back-buttoned blouse popped off when Frank kissed his bride. They started their life together with a tank of gas, a coke for her, a beer for him and a package of peanuts to share. Becoming a mother terrified Nancy, but she took to it easily with two stepchildren, six kids of her own born within 8 years, and those kids she took in who needed an advocate, guidance and a warm meal and bed. Nancy’s home was a haven for folks in need, with the unquestioning support of Frank and her children. Life could be difficult - her children’s ongoing medical issues left little money for anything other than paying insurmountable bills - but Nancy’s creativity, resourcefulness, and unfailing sense of humor made it seem less so to her family. Cloud watching, reading and writing, playing pretend, art and music in any form, fishing and outdoor exploration, games of every sort, and inventing-something-out-of-nothing were free or cheap forms of entertainment. She instilled a love of learning through fun and imagination in her kids.

Volunteerism was a must for the Meyer Family. Nancy’s need to help involved her whole family. Vacations to theme parks were not affordable or even considered - instead their outings were to group homes to visit with the developmentally disabled, gleaning farmers’ fields for the food banks, to even reading poetry to prisoners in Deer Lodge. If there was a cause, Nancy had her family committed. Not one of her children resents or regrets these activities, believing to be better because of them.

A hard work ethic and many moves had Nancy working different jobs in different towns. Putting pride aside, she worked any job that would help put food on the table. Bank teller, retail sales, Yellowstone Park employee, waitress, hotel clerk/manager, convenience store manager, bookkeeper, Eddy’s Bread artist, golf course manager, bar swamper, keno caller, and poker game owner and dealer. Other positions held more meaning for her as they spoke to her true calling: first Coordinator of the Flathead Food Bank, Case Manager at the Flathead Agency on Aging, Hospice worker, live-in caregiver to those with Alzheimer’s, a Rape/Crisis Line Advocate in towns across Montana, Vocational Specialist for the developmentally disabled at Counterpoint, Executive Director for Mountain House Mental Health Center, and she served on numerous nonprofit boards and committees. Besides the most important job of Mom, Nancy also sacrificed her time and money for the household to take care of her first grandchild, Ashley, in order for her daughter Dorothy to finish school. Ashley was blessed to have had her Grandma’s full-time love and attention.

Nancy’s family cannot claim she was a saint even though her heart and acts of service sure had her qualified. She could be downright stubborn, prone to martyrdom, vicious as a Mama Bear, and not one to mess with when on a mission or chewing gum. Her intelligence and beauty were unmistakable, but compliments embarrassed her and attention had her feeling foolish. Her stunning blue eyes and husky voice were unforgettable. Nancy had a competitive nature and a lucky streak - live poker, Scrabble, Charades, and Duplicate Bridge were her favorites to play. She relished road trips, silly pranks, Three Musketeers bars, people-watching, lilacs, her Mother’s cooking, crosswords, time with her family and friends, Jeopardy, the laughter of her grandchildren, a good cigar, NPR & PBS, swimming laps at Chico, the drive up Swingley Creek to the Mission Creek Cabin (her favorite place on Earth), scouring thrift shops, The Sunday Brunch on Moose Radio, making pies, all of her children’s dogs, brainstorming, storm-chasing, ping pong and badminton, cups of tea, movies, and offering advice (usually right) even when you didn’t ask for it.

She was a voracious reader of every subject, artistically gifted, an amazing conversationalist, and had a wonderful way with words. Nancy left paintings, poems, songs, short stories, and writings for her family and friends to treasure.

Nancy is survived by her children: Doug (Jamie) Meyer of Columbia Falls, Ken (Katie) Meyer of Choteau, Dorothy Meyer of Kalispell, Donny (Loraine) Meyer of Choteau, and Molly (Rod) Britt of Choteau and her two stepchildren, Rick Meyer of Choteau and Becky Meyer-Cossey of Livingston. Her grandchildren: Ashley Mundel, Mylissa Edwards, Krystine Edwards, Matt Britt, Micael Hedgecock, Chance Meyer, Tyler Hedgecock, Kade Britt, Brody Britt, Kellen Meyer, Maisy Britt, Kale Meyer, and Hannah Meyer. Great grandchildren: Baily, Sydnie, Dylan, Jakson, Jude, Lincoln, McKynnlie, Skyla, Clara, River, Edyn and Laila. Siblings: Dick Murphy, Cindy Murphy, and Micael Murphy, all of Livingston, Montana along with numerous nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends who enriched her life - especially Terri Baker, B.J. Bylund, Myrna Turzo, and her dearest and oldest friend, Sharon McGee Meyerhoff, who beat Nancy to Heaven by a year. Their giggling began in kindergarten and will now cause the clouds to shake as God turns a blind eye.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, her oldest sister Barbara Nelson, her ex-husband Frank Meyer, and their oldest son, Rich Meyer, whose great loss was felt and shared by both of them every single day. All she wanted was to be with him again.

A Celebration of Life will be at 10:30 am on September 10, 2023, at the Birch Grove Community Hall at 594 Birch Grove Road in Kalispell, MT.  More details and donation information can be found at https://everloved.com/life-of/nancy-meyer/.

Nancy loathed the danger of icy roads and hot weather, so she insisted her memorial be held in early spring or fall. Bring a camp chair for outside visiting, your stories of Nancy, and a dish to share if you’d like. When you leave, Go with God, as she’d have said herself. 

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