Nancy was born on August 4, 1949, in McCook, Nebraska, to Don Brown and Lois Brown (Guinn), both now deceased. Nancy was one of eight children: Vicki Corder, Kent Brown, Phil Brown, Donna Johnson, Sally Lacy, Gina Rafkin, and Eric Brown. She is preceded in death by her brother Alan, who was stillborn. Growing up in Oberlin, Kansas, Nancy was a tomboy and loved playing with her brother Kent. With a police officer for a father, she rarely caused problems. 

After graduating from Decatur Community Senior High School in 1967, Nancy attended Atlantic Airline School in Kansas City. Upon graduation, she headed west to San Francisco to work as a reservations agent for SFO Helicopters Airlines. While there, she met a special Navy man, Al Mahrer, who lived in her apartment complex. 

Al and Nancy were married on September 9, 1969, in Park River, North Dakota. After living there while Al completed college, they transferred to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for Al’s new job. In Cedar Rapids, Nancy worked as a medical assistant. She also worked hard to provide a nurturing and supportive home for her children: April Merritt (Jim) of Melissa, Texas; Amber Pirillo (Ben) of Anna, Texas; and Justin Mahrer (Missy) of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. 

Working part-time allowed Nancy to be there for all the important moments in her children’s lives. She could be found in the bleachers for tennis games, swim meets, basketball games, soccer meets, and more. Nancy provided snacks and carpool but often drew the line at helping with math homework. 

The Mahrer family spent many hours snow skiing, water skiing, camping, and boating, including a yearly summer trip to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. 

Once their children had graduated and moved out, Nancy and Al made their permanent move to the Lake in 2006. They spent 18 years together on the water and were a destination vacation spot for their friends and family. 

As her children had their children, Nancy spread the love to her grandkids and considered them a source of joy in her life. She was a strong support system for Zander, Roman, and Viola Pirillo in Texas, providing extra emotional and medical support during the twins’ early years and making it a point to be in Texas when the kids started school each year. 

In 2020, she and Al opened their house to Justin, Missy, Mila, Joely, and Hallie for four months as the Justin Mahrer family transitioned from California to their new home in Tennessee. The girls loved spending time at the lake growing up and getting to know Grandma and Grandpa better.

Nancy also loved many pets as an adult. She and Al started their family with Pepe, a toy black poodle, and continued with Pooh Bear as the kids grew up. Once they moved to the lake, Nancy and Al were joined by Pepper and later Scooby. 

This love extended to her grandcats: April and Jim’s Mouse, Murphy, Mosey, Mimzy, Monty, Mena, and Maddie; Amber and Ben’s Onyx, Quartz, and Topaz; and Justin and Missy’s Sonny. 

Once she retired, Nancy filled her days with reading, playing games both digital and more traditional, and volunteering in her community. She spent time helping out at the Dogwood Animal Shelter Thrift Store, the Lake Regional Medical Center, and with her church, most recently Faithbridge.

Nancy will be remembered as a vibrant and passionate woman who was strong in her faith and always had a smile and a kind word for a stranger. Her family and friends will continue to share stories of her adventures and carry on her habit of finding ‘little while friends’ wherever they can.