Nancy Henderson Obituary

Nancy Lou Henderson

December 6, 1932 – February 9, 2025

Nancy Lou Henderson was born in Long Beach, CA on December 6, 1932 to Grace and Everett Hollingsworth. She was blessed to have loving parents and a younger sister who became her best friend. She enjoyed a childhood growing up near the beach in an era where there were actually wide-open spaces in Southern California. She loved the beach and was a lifeguard and involved in any other activity that might keep her near the ocean. She and her sister spent summers with their parents on the farm in Iowa to visiting the Macy and Hollingsworth families. She attended Whittier College and later graduated from Long Beach State.

She married the love of her life, Jack Henderson on May 9, 1953.

The family moved to Northern California in 1965 and enjoyed a small-town change of pace as owners of a hardware store on main street in Grass Valley, CA and building that business and a family.

Nancy was the consummate giver. She supported her family business working long days in the hardware store while balancing raising three headstrong girls. Later she and Jack started a new business Live Wire Products which she worked in until it was sold in 2020.

She was a devoted mother and caregiver for everyone in her family while helping Jack with their business. Whether she was volunteering at her daughters' schools, serving as a 4-H leader for countless clubs and projects or just being there whenever the need arose, she was always there and ever present in the lives of her girls and a second mother to their friends.

When her grandchildren were asked for descriptive terms, "selfless" and "kind" were most often cited. She believed in treating people as you would want to be treated and that life was too short to not enjoy today and be positive about tomorrow.

Her passion for family continued even as her health declined as she convinced Jack to move to Edmond, Oklahoma in 2021 to be in the midst of two of her daughters and their families and its crazy weather. She settled in quickly, enjoying trips to Lucille's in Mulhall and the Cattlemen's restaurant in Oklahoma City as well as her favorite museum, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

She is survived by her husband, Jack Henderson, her daughters Karen Henderson and husband Jim Drew, Susan Henderson-Perry and husband Randy Perry, and Jennifer Henderson Callahan, her grandchildren Patrick Eidman, Lesa Eidman, Sara Hollenbeck and husband Henry, Austin Perry and wife Harlie Perry, Colby Perry, Macy Marlett and husband Austin Marlett and Ryan Callahan and girlfriend Taylor Gazda and 3 great grandchildren, Rhett Hollenbeck, Hazel Hollenback and Banks Perry.

She was predeceased by her parents, Grace and J. Everett Hollingsworth and her sister and best friend Carol Lynn Hollingsworth.

A private service will be held when the weather warms and we can honor her in the way that fits her spirit.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Nancy's memory to the Angus Foundation, 3201 Frederick Ave., St. Joseph Mo to support the National Junior Angus Association.