Nancy Annette Palmer

December 4, 1953 – June 10, 2024

After a life of dedicated leadership, accomplishment and public service, Nancy Annette Palmer passed away on June 10, 2024, surrounded by longtime friends.  She was born to Ruth (Kruger) and Martin Daniel Palmer on December 4, 1953 in San Antonio.

Nancy's interest in journalism began at Thomas Jefferson High School.  She was associate editor of the award-winning school paper and won 1st place in newswriting and headline writing at the UIL District competition.  She was in the Lassos, Quill & Scroll and the National Honor Society.  Her lifelong interest in politics began when she joined the Jefferson Teenage Republican Club and then rose to Vice Chair of the Bexar County Teenage Republicans.

Nancy attended Southern Methodist University earning a BFA in Journalism in 1974.  She combined her love of journalism and sports when she created the first sports department at KSMU, the campus radio station. She followed that with 8 years of freelance sports writing and broadcasting with assignments for the Dallas Times Herald and KRLD Radio and was the first woman in the Dallas area with a sports column (syndicated in 9 newspapers).

Nancy put her communications skills to work as Marketing Coordinator for LaQuinta Motor Inns, Inc. in Dallas from 1975 - 1980.  She assisted in creating and implementing the company's first national marketing program.

In early 1981, Nancy moved to Washinton D.C. to pursue a dream job with newly elected President Ronald Reagan.  After positions with Congressman Bill Archer and Congressman Tom Loeffler she served as Staff Assistant in the Legislative Affairs Office in the West Wing of the White House.  Their job was to secure the bipartisan votes in Congress to pass the President's agenda.

When her father became ill, Nancy returned to San Antonio to be with him and her mother  and spent several years in residential real estate sales with him.

From 1988 to 1992 Nancy was Assistant Vice President for Government Affairs and Education at the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and Staff Manager of the Leadership San Antonio program.

Politics beckoned again in 1992 and Nancy put her experience to work as a political consultant taking charge of the Bexar County Bush/Quayle Victory '92 campaign, coordinating volunteers, events and phone banks.  In 1993 and 1994 she was in charge of the Bexar County campaign efforts for U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.  Nancy was very active in the Bexar County Republican Party serving as a precinct chair and member of the Bexar County Party Management Committee, delegate to numerous Senatorial District and State Conventions and leading major fundraising events, and working for candidates.  She was also active in several local Republican Women's Clubs.

Then Nancy returned to college and completed requirements for a teaching certificate and began a 20 plus year career as a teacher at John Jay High School.  She began as a journalism teacher and year book advisor but soon moved to her first love - government.  She truly enjoyed teaching advanced placement government classes.  She coordinated UIL programs and competitions and coached participants.  Her students regularly won awards at the district, regional and state level.  At the end of 2021, Nancy reluctantly made the decision to retire.

Nancy's personal interests included genealogy.  She was active in the San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society and held several offices including President 1993 - 94.  She was a Master Gardener and edited the Bexar County Master Gardeners Newsletter 1994 - 98. She enjoyed cooking and collecting and sharing recipes and cookbooks.  She also enjoyed singing and participated in school and church choirs.

Nancy was happiest when she was very busy and kept things lively by being part of lunch groups, Bunco and Pokeno parties as well as her teaching, genealogy and political commitments.

At SMU she joined Gamma Phi Beta sorority and was a faithful member for 50+ years.  Her last triumphant bucket list item was rounding up long lost mid '70's members for a recent 150th anniversary celebration in Dallas.  That gift of reignited friendships is a priceless tribute to Gamma Phi Beta's fierce and determined sister, Nancy.

Nancy Palmer had a deep faith and was a member of Coker Methodist Church and later Alamo Heights Methodist Church. As it became clear that Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia would take her, she said her life was in God's hands and all would be OK.  May she rest in peace.  She is missed by everyone who knew her.

A sincere thank you to Dr. Shaunessy and the entire Sarah Cannon team at Methodist Hospital for their compassionate and dedicated care and to the many angels who helped ensure Nancy had transportation to her treatments, took care of her house, lifted her spirits with calls, cards and visits, and made sure she had meals from her favorite restaurants.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Sarah Cannon Fund at American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD  27141 or to the charity of your choice.

Private internment will be held at a later date.