Nancy Collins Thetford

Nancy Collins Thetford peacefully passed away on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at her residence in Lubbock, Texas, four days shy of her 91st birthday, with her daughter, Karen, by her side. She was born at home in Hamlin, Texas to Miles & Montie Collins on July 6, 1933 and moved to Ropesville, Texas in January 1937. Upon graduating from Ropesville High School in May 1950, she went to college at Texas Tech, Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas, and Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. After her time in college, she went back home to Ropesville where she and her high school boyfriend, Jack Thetford, were married on February 9, 1952. The very next day, they moved to Amarillo where Jack was stationed in the Air Force. On July 11, 1953, they had their first child, Clark David Thetford at West Texas Hospital in Lubbock. In January 1954, Jack finished his service in the Air Force in Amarillo. They were both raised on the farm and decided that was the life they wanted to pursue together. Nancy's father owned some farmland in Higginbotham, just southwest of Denver City, Texas and they moved to that farm. Jack was raising cotton and Nancy was a farmer's wife. Their years on the farm and in Denver City gave them lifelong friendships. On March 22, 1957, Nancy had her second child, Claire D'Nan. She was born in Lubbock at Methodist Hospital. Nancy said of those days: "Times were good back then. My days were filled with cleaning, washing, and tending to children." They built a new house in Denver City, Texas, where David attended school. The family moved into the house in January of 1963. It was just north of the Denver City Mustangs Football Stadium. Life revolved around farming, First Baptist Church, and the mighty Mustang football team. The home where they thought they would stay for the rest of their lives only lasted for a few months. In March 1963, Jack's brother & sister-in-law tragically passed away. That brother, Billy Thetford, had been farming a lot of land, and raising cattle, for a Lubbock doctor near Ropesville. The doctor offered the farmland to Jack, with the stipulation that he would have to move to Lubbock. They decided to accept the offer and moved to Lubbock. They soon built a new home in Lubbock at 60th and Nashville and moved there in 1964. They would live for many years at that home and raise their children there. On March 22, 1965, Nancy had her third child, Judy Karen. She was born at Methodist Hospital 8 years and 25 minutes from the day D'Nan was born. Nancy spent her days raising the family and taking care of the house. She was outstanding in everything that dealt with the household and taking care of the family. After the family was raised, Nancy ventured back to the workplace. She opened a yogurt store, called Yogurt Supreme, in the Village Shopping Center at 82nd and Quaker. She would later enter the real estate business, as at REALTOR, at Coldwell Banker Rick Canup REALTORS, with David. Later in her life, Nancy took care of her mother until her mother's passing. She continued to live at the Ropesville family home after her mother passed away in January of 1998. In November of 2020, Nancy moved to Lubbock and lived with Karen until her passing. She was a lifelong faithful Baptist and prayer warrior for everyone she knew. Now, she is home with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and her family that went before her. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Miles and Montie Collins, her older bother, Myles L. Collins (Amy-Deceased), her older sister, Faye M. Dunavant (Ray-Deceased), and her younger brother, James M. Collins (Wanda). Her former husband, Clark Edward (Jack) Thetford, passed away on January 29, 2000. She is also preceded in death by nieces, Diane Collins Songer and Nancy Carol Dunavant on the Collins side of the family and by nephews, Terry Bradshaw and Tim Fletcher and her In-Laws, Tee And Irene Thetford, Billy and Alice Thetford, Carrol and Levetta Bradshaw, Jimmy and Geneva Fletcher on the Thetford side of the family. Nancy is survived by her son, Clark David Thetford (Jan Thetford), and her daughters, Claire D'Nan Bartin (Jerry) and Judy Karen Thetford. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Rachael Thetford Butts (Jordan), Tanner Thetford (Magen), Ashley Bartin Abadie (Jordan), Brett Bartin, Taya Thetford Fisher (Caleb), Dustin Thetford, and Justin Thetford. There are 7 great grandchildren: Myles Thetford, Truman Thetford, Maggie Thetford, Oliver Abadie, Kylo Thetford, Bailey Fisher, and Clarke Butts. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Wanda Collins, four nieces, and ten nephews. The service for Nancy will be on Monday, July 8, 2024, at Sanders Funeral Home, 1420 Main Avenue in Lubbock, Texas. The service will begin at 2:00 pm. There will be a time of visitation immediately following the service. The burial ceremony will be on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at 10:00 am at Resthaven Cemetery (19th & Frankford Avenue).

Nancy Collins Thetford

July 6, 1933 - July 2, 2024