Nancy B Hall

Obituary: Nancy Ruth Boyd Hall March 15, 1928 - April 13, 2018 Nancy Ruth Boyd Hall died as she lived, with grace and dignity, on April 13, 2018 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She was 90 years old. Nancy was born on March 15, 1928 to James Victor Boyd (known as JV or Vic) and Ruth Gaume Boyd in El Paso, Texas and was brought home to La Union, New Mexico. Nancy's parents were school teachers and the family lived in several Mesilla Valley communities during Nancy's childhood. Nancy was a member of the Class of '45 of Las Cruces Union High School. She enrolled for college at New Mexico A&M (now NMSU) as a biology major. She was a popular member of Chi Omega sorority and other campus organizations. She met the charming Kenneth Hall of Tatum, New Mexico while on a double date. They were married in February 1949 following their graduations. They made their first home in Las Cruces where their daughters Karen and Susan were born. Ken's career opportunities in the defense and aerospace technology industries took the family from coast to coast. They moved first to Los Angeles in 1956 where their son Mark was born. The family moved to Redlands, California in 1962 followed by a short term move to the Washington DC area in the turbulent Spring of 1968. Ken accepted a position in Lexington, Massachusetts in the Fall of 1968 where the family lived for three years before returning to southern California. Ken and Nancy moved back to Las Cruces in 2004 to enjoy their retirement years. Nancy loved flowers and created beautiful gardens at each of her homes. She was a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout leader, Sunday School teacher, and volunteered in schools to tutor children with reading disabilities. She enjoyed sewing, quilting and knitting. She was an active volunteer at the local community library and at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes, CA. She spent thousands of hours over 30 years in the potting sheds and grounds helping to turn a former open pit mine and sanitary landfill into lush biodiverse gardens. She was an avid reader of many genres of books and maintained a lifelong interest in politics and current events. She and Ken shared a love of travel and took many trips across the nation and the world. She was a dedicated mother who taught her children to value education and diversity, and to be ethical, productive members of society. She adored being the grandmother of four rambunctious boys and one lively girl, and was so pleased to welcome three great-grandchildren into the family in 2016. She was looking forward to her fourth great-grandchild who was born only nine days after she passed from this life. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, JV and Ruth Boyd and one brother, Sidney Boyd. She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Kenneth Hall; her children, Karen Hall, Susan (Rodney) Gamble, and Mark (Kathryn) Hall; five grandchildren, Christopher (Natalie) Sheehy, Brett (Sarah) Gamble, Matthew (Sara) Gamble, James Hall, and Elizabeth Hall; four great-grandchildren, Colin Sheehy, Piper Gamble, Olivia Gamble, and Johnny Gamble; and one brother, James Boyd, Jr. A celebration of Nancy's life will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 14, 2018 at First Christian Church, 1809 El Paseo Rd, Las Cruces, NM. Please dress in colorful or floral attire in honor of Nancy's passion for flowers and gardens. A mother's hug lasts long after she lets go.