(As you read this memorial, just sing, hum, or whistle that great Preservation Hall Jazz Song, “When the Saints Come Marchin’ In”.)

Friday,All Saints Day, November 1, 1929, Nancy Loo Franklin was born in the family home at Elwood, IA to Albert Earl Franklin and Delpha Grace Pierce Franklin on the whiplashing tail of the CRASH that lead into the Great Depression of 1929! At age 16, she attended Francis Shimer College in Mt. Carroll, Illinois. She completed her High School work at the same time she was taking her first year college courses.  She worked in the campus grill to supplement her income and carried a full load of classes each semester, graduating June 6, 1948 at age 18.

Next, she attended a semester at the University of New Mexico to major in Nursing after making arrangements to work in a Dr.’s office to support her way through school. Her mother had Albert call Nancy home, claiming Delpha was on her deathbed with a heart attack, January 1949. When Nan arrived home she found what her Mother had instead was an attack of  “moral indignation”, “nursing was not a respectable profession”.

Nan feeling betrayed, left March 1949, for Davenport, Iowa and worked at Universal C.I.T. Credit Corp. as an investigation/billing clerk when she met Bruce Tarbox, a competing credit firm investigator. Nancy was married Saturday, November 26, 1949 in the Methodist Church in Delmar, Iowa to Bruce Tarbox.

October 16, 1950 Stephanie Elaine Tarbox was born several weeks premature in Mason City, Iowa at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital.  It was discovered in 1994 that Stephanie had been born with Williams Syndrome. May 7, 1953 Maryette Franklin Tarbox was born in the same hospital.

Nan was an active participant of the Young Methodist Circle, Women’s Legion Auxiliary, Progress Club, and DAR (Mayflower lineage from Delpha’s Mother’s ancestors) among many other organizations in her lifetime.

Bruce and his brother, Verden, bought the Farmers Savings Bank in North English, Iowa in 1959. Nancy’s contributions were pivotal throughout Bruce’s Banking career at Clear Lake, Centerville, and North English, Iowa aiding his success.

Brownie Scout leader for troop 138, 1961-1962, Nancy was fair, patient, and a positive example of Leadership.  She became a Daughter of Nile Cedar Rapids Eu'cha-rest Temple No. 68. Nan was a very active Republican, having coffees for candidates, etc. On voting days Nancy called people and drove them to the polls even if they were not Republican. In 1964 Nan was Worthy Matron of North English Chapter No. 170 of the Order of Eastern Star and School of Instruction was scheduled that March.

Following Bruce’s finalized divorce April 13,1977, Nancy relocated to San Diego to live in the more temperate climate prescribed by many Medical Specialists in the early 1960s.

Surviving years of many joys, and heartaches, March 2000, Nancy was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in her Laguna Hills, California home November 9, 2000.