Nancy Gay Swanson Bailey

Born June 11, 1944 in Lompoc California to Herbert C. Swanson and Dorothy A. Riche Swanson. She was raised in and around Lompoc. The family lived in town and in the country in the Jalama area. Nancy was the middle child with a younger brother Clark and an older sister, Coralee. Nancy loved to swim competitively as a youngster.  The Swanson family boat was a favorite of Nancy's and she learned to water ski in the Pacific Ocean, which was an activity she pursued on Moses Lake for many years. Herb was a talented musician and music teacher, so the kids learned to play a variety of instruments.

The family moved to the Santa Ynez valley about the time Nancy started high school. Dorothy taught at Santa Ynez Valley High School and Herb continued at the JM Plant in Lompoc.  Nancy and Coralee were a talented pair, with Nancy singing in the Choir, at weddings and other occasions, and Coralee playing the piano. Herb was a 4H leader, and the kids had a Sheep breeding project for many years.

Nancy was active in many extracurricular activities at school, including Band, track team, and cheerleading. Her Track team went to Gary Indiana in 1960 to compete at the AAU National finals in the Relay. Nancy was always an intense competitor.

Nancy met Bill at the Santa Barbara County Fair in 1959. They dated for two years until Bill went off to College. In 1966 Bill and Nancy resumed seeing each other and were married Nov. 25, 1966 at the home of Arden Jensen, the local judge and a family friend. Bruce William was born in  1968 at the Solvang Hospital. Nancy worked at the Solvang Medical Clinic for the years that the family lived in the Los Alamos and Santa Ynez areas. Eventually Nancy was able to become a stay at home Mom for Bruce.  Nancy has always been fiercely protective of her family and those she loved.

The family moved to King City in the Salinas Valley. Bill worked for Basic Vegetable Products, Inc. and Nancy went to work as a Police Dept. Dispatcher.  Many lasting friendships were developed during these years. In 1975 the family moved to Moses Lake as Bill was transferred to American Potato Company Moses Lake Plant. While Bill was interviewing for the Moses Lake job, Nancy-who was then  working for a Title Company in Salinas- was taking her California State Real Estate test- which she passed.

1975 brought Nancy and her family to Moses Lake. We had purchased a small lake home on Crestview Drive, a real treat for the family. Nancy loved to swim and she and Bruce spent many happy hours in Moses Lake. With her Real Estate earnings she bought the family a swimming pool so we could all enjoy the water and sunshine. Nancy and Bruce were best friends.

During these first years in Moses Lake, Nancy received her Associates Degree from Big Bend CC. Her next challenge was a Real Estate License. She then went to work under the tutelage of D. Kent Jones.   Nancy was driven to succeed. She excelled at sales, and she became the office Sales Manager. In the office she taught agents skills for improving  sales and taught in the vocational program at BBCC, including Real Estate prelicensing.  Nancy was active with the Moses Lake Othello Board of Realtors for many years, serving as an officer including the

Presidency. She received many awards for sales as well as service to the Board of Realtors and the Community. Nancy felt that it was important to "Dress for Success".  She loved the color RED.

In 1984 Nancy decided to form her own Sales Company, Basin Real Estate Company. She operated the successful sales  business for about 20 years. She finally decided that she didn't enjoy the time demands of sales any longer and took over operating the Property Management business, keeping Bill as the bookkeeper.

Nancy and Bill purchased land in Montana in both the Lincoln area (Unabomber), and the Augusta area. She loved to visit especially the home in Augusta. The view of The Rocky Mountain Front was a favorite of hers. Nancy and Bruce purchased and refinished many antique pieces over the years. Many of them are in the family home.  Her home was her Palace and a refuge as well. Nancy directed the doubling in size of the Crestview home. She was an avid collector of spoons , plates and antique glassware. Bruce was her accomplice in these collections. Decorating the family home was her passion. The ranch home shows her touch as well.

Nancy enjoyed our horses. She loved matching horses with people. Nancy enjoyed sharing the fruits of her success with those in need. She has always supported the Food Bank, the Animal Shelter, the Fair, 4H/FFA livestock Auction, Veterans, youth programs and sports, young people and especially education. She was a great fund raiser for many causes from the Farmer's Market,  Museum, Rotary Chamber Auction, ML Rotary Auction, Operation Walk, Grant County Horse Association, Crab Creek Riders of BCHW, Board of Realtors, and  other groups that she participated in. Nancy expected a high level of performance from herself in everything she did. She expected the same commitment from those around her.

Nancy loved all holidays and would decorate the house and office to match the season. Christmas was her favorite as she would hear from friends, relatives and acquaintances. She loved to give and would plan gifts for friends sometimes two years in advance. Our home would be filled with Christmas music the day after thanksgiving, overridden by the radio with a game on. The Mariners, Seahawks and Sonics were her favorites, although when they weren't playing so well or players made bonehead mistakes, she could be quite critical. You generally knew where you stood with Nancy.

Nancy had a seizure Nov. 22, 2010, a minor stroke on Jan. 7,2011 and realized that she could no longer work. Her health seemed OK, but something else was wrong. Nancy was diagnosed on Dec. 1, 2011 with a malignant brain tumor. She immediately began weekly Chemotherapy and daily Radiation treatments.  The medical staffs at the Wenatchee Valley Clinic and Hospital did everything possible to help her live. She was at home, cared for by Bruce and Bill, going to Wenatchee daily for treatment, until her last day, January 18, 2012. She died after one night at the hospital with Bill at her side. Our friends Jerry and Ronda Kayser brought her back to Moses Lake and she was cremated. We miss her. She is in a better place now.  I am sure that she is straightening out some situations  that don't meet her standards. She wanted the Ranch cleaned up and the "Boneyard" to disappear. She has been proud of her family, homes  and life over the 45 years that she and Bill were together.

Nancy and Bill had for many years planned that whoever survived would have a grand party for our friends, relatives and acquaintances to celebrate the life of the passed partner.  She is looking down on this gathering Saturday, June 23, 2012. Bruce and Bill Bailey invite Nancy's friends and acquaintances to our home at 13308 Rd. 10 NE. for a Bar-B-Q  and Celebration, from 1:00-5:00.  Arrangements were in care of Kayser's Chapel & Crematory.