Nancy Wade

A memorial service will be held at Brownfield Funeral Home on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 2:00pm to celebrate a joyful life. 

Nancy Ross Wade went home to Jesus on July 7, 2025, in Brownfield, Texas. Nancy Evelyn Morgan was born to F. L. (Francis Leon) Morgan and Jessie Gaston Morgan on December 23, 1931. She was born in her Grandmother and Granddaddy Morgan’s front bedroom in Santa Anna, Texas. In 1945, she was saved in the Methodist Church in Santa Anna, and after completing Junior High School that same year, moved to Brownfield. She graduated from Brownfield High School in 1949.

Nancy married Mack Ross on March 5, 1950. She and Mack attended Baylor University, the University of Washington and the University of Colorado before settling back in Brownfield. Nancy later attended Texas Tech University. Nancy and Mack had five children, Michael, Jana, Jeff, Mark, and Joel. Mack died on December 23, 1975.Nancy married Adolph Hollmann Jr. in May 1979 and added three more children to her family, Robert Hollmann, Mary Ann Mackenzie, and Daniel Hollmann. Adolph died December 23, 1984.

Nancy married Donnie Wade on August 29, 1992 and added two more children to her family, Scott Wade and Jana Royal. Donnie died on August 11, 2021.

Nancy loved the Lord and attended First Baptist Church of Brownfield. She was very active in the church. She taught the 2-year old Sunday School class, helped with Vacation Bible School, served on the kitchen committee, was a Girls in Action (GA) leader, and served in many other capacities. She was never too busy to visit sick or grieving church members and take food to them.

Nancy was also very active in the lives of her children. She was a Cub Scout and Brownie leader, PTA member, and an avid sports supporter. She was at every game, and it was her voice that could be heard over all others whether on the baseball field, basketball court, or football field. She was also known for letting the umpires and referees know when they had made a wrong call. She even followed one Denver City basketball referee into the men’s locker room. After Nancy’s children were out of local sports, she followed her grandchildren’s school sports. 

Nancy was also an avid Texas Tech University sports fan. She and Mack had season TTU football tickets and attended several away games each year. This tradition continued with Adolph beside her and then with Donnie. Their joy of TTU sports spread to basketball, especially TTU women’s basketball. She and Donnie were huge Marsha Sharp and Lady Raider fans. They had season tickets, attended all home games, some away games, and traveled with the team to Australia, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the 1993 NCAA Championship game as well as to other destinations. They also made it to see Sheryl Swoopes and teammates lead the USA Olympic Team to win the Gold Medal in the Atlanta 1996 Olympics. They were truly dedicated fans.

Nancy decided to work outside of the home as her children grew up. She began working with Mack at Ross Irrigation Supply Co., Inc. She helped him run the business until his death, and then she continued to run the business until she sold it. She later went to work with Adolph as a cotton buyer. She enjoyed working with the farmers that came in to get a price on their cotton. She cared about her customers and knew the hardships and rewards as the market went up and down. She always did her best to get them the best price she could. After Adolph passed away, Nancy, Judy Seeley, and Norma Archer formed NJN Cotton Co. Nancy retired but Judy is still running the business and still came to visit Nancy. In addition, Nancy, together with her daughter Jana, operated Forever in Stitches for a number of years. They learned to cross-stitch, needlepoint, and quilt. Nancy made some beautiful keepsakes that are cherished by family and friends.

Nancy was busy with family, work, and friends, but she found time to serve her community. Brownfield was home to her, and she wanted to serve the people in any way possible. She served as Brownfield Chamber of Commerce Director (1978-1980) and was named the Outstanding Citizen of Terry County in 1996. She served on the Brownfield City Council (1997-2000) and then as Brownfield’s first (and only) female Mayor (2000-2004). She worked diligently to beautify the city and update the city landfill. One of her main goals was to have beautiful entries along highways into Brownfield, particularly the entry on the Lubbock Highway. She worked closely with Dr. Richard Ridgway, and they, together with other concerned citizens, raised $170,000 to fund the establishment of Hamilton Park in 2006. The legacy of the park has grown more beautiful and meaningful with subsequent additions, the latest of which was a new 100-foot flagpole with an American flag that was completed with a flag-raising ceremony on April 3, 2025.

Nancy and Donnie also served the Brownfield community in other ways. They delivered Meals on Wheels and became Hospice of Lubbock volunteers. The work for Hospice of Lubbock was very meaningful to them as they went into the homes of Hospice patients to visit and help support the patients and their families. She always said that when the time came, she wanted us to call Hospice of Lubbock to care for her.

Nancy was diagnosed with Dementia many years ago, and her family has been on a journey since that time. While Nancy’s family grew through marriages, after Donnie’s death, her family continued to grow through the addition of her caregivers who are affectionately known as “Team Nancy’s Angels”: Kelli Mendez, Monica Warren, Valerie Flores, Erica Garcia, Meagan Gonzales, Brenda Simpson, and Zina Townsend. We could not have made this journey without the help and support of family, friends, and the women of Team Nancy’s Angels. Team members lovingly cared for Queen Nancy and would say, “Queen Nancy’s house, Queen Nancy’s rules” and “What Queen Nancy wants, Queen Nancy gets.” The house was filled with love and laughter. God blessed us with Angels here on Earth. They will always be a part of our family and we will never be able to express what they mean to us. We count our blessings every day. We had told Nancy that we would celebrate when she went to dance in the streets of Heaven. When Nancy completed her earthly journey, the Angels, family, and Hospice nurse all gathered around Nancy, said a prayer, shared stories, laughed, cried, and celebrated a life well lived. Thank you, God! Nancy held her friends in her heart, and once you were her friend, she cultivated that friendship. After Donnie died, Nancy, Nora Richardson, Barbara Hogue, and Marilyn Adams, who have loved and supported each other for over 70 years, formed the “90s Club”. The love these women have for each other is amazing! They gathered Wednesday mornings at Nora’s house to have coffee and lots of good food. Team Nancy’s Angels would take her to club meetings, and other family members from out of town would join them and enjoy the company of these wise and loving women. We learned a lot from them as we listened to their stories. About how Nancy was the first person Barbara met in Brownfield, on the steps of the First Baptist Church in 1951. And how Nancy and Marilyn met in 1952 when Nancy and Mack were the first to visit Marilyn and Tom at the farm house where they were living. And how Nancy and Nora have been friends since 1953 when Nora and L.J. moved to Brownfield. 

Nancy had a loving, caring heart and indomitable spirit. She enjoyed helping others and gathering together with family and friends, whether on the beach at Port Aransas or at Grandmother’s Cabin in Ruidoso. Even as she struggled through her dementia, she would greet each morning with “It’s a beautiful day!” (even if we were having a sandstorm), and respond to good news with an “Oh boy!”. 

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents F.L. Morgan and Jessie Morgan, brother F. L. Morgan Jr., and husbands Mack Ross, Adolph Hollmann, and Donnie Wade. Nancy is survived by Michael Ross (Sheralyn), Jana Daniel (Loy), Jeff Ross (Carol), Mark Ross (Liz), Joel Ross (Shirlene), Scott Wade (Kami), and Jana Royal (Barry); 16 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by Adolph’s children Robert Hollmann (Kathy), Mary Ann Mackenzie, and Dan Hollmann (Jeanette).

Nancy was a very giving person, and she continues that legacy by donating her body to Texas Tech University Health Science Center Willed Body Program for training medical students. In lieu of flowers, please help support Nancy’s favorite charities: Hospice of Lubbock, Terry County Food Bank, First Baptist Church Building Fund, Hamilton Park fund – City of Brownfield and/or Kendrick Memorial Library.