Nancy Gay Reece Nazzise, 64, died May 9, 2017, with her family by her side. Her sudden passing has left a hole in her family that will be impossible to fill.
Born Sept. 23, 1952, in Payson, UT, to Shanna and Thomas Reece, Nancy was eager to laugh with and to lift those around her. From a young age, Nancy lived with a singular purpose: joy. That joy echoed in her unforgettable laugh and was apparent in the life she crafted.
For Nancy, no opportunity was too small nor challenge too daunting, and she attacked life with optimism.
After graduating from Olympus High School (SLC) she attended the nursing program at SLCC graduating with her RN certification. Nancy worked at the University of Utah, as a nurse in the newborn intensive care unit at Primary Children's Hospital. She took care of the smallest and sickest babies and formed longtime friendships with the families.
She loved serving the children and families in her care yet knew there was more she could do to help and eventually returned to the University of Utah to become a physician's assistant. She worked as a pediatric PA at the University's Greenwood Clinic in Midvale, UT. She loved her position and worked tirelessly to insure her patients were happy and healthy. Ever ready to help and to heal, Nancy was, of course, the first phone call when a beloved niece or nephew was hurt or ill.
Nancy worked just as tirelessly for her own family, including her son, Nicholas Nazzise, and husband, Tom Johnson (deceased). The three called Sandy and then Draper, UT, home, where Nancy made many good friends among the family's neighbors and colleagues.
Nancy loved to travel. She loved the beach, enjoyed cruises and—much like her dad—considered Kona, Hawaii, her second home. She built a lifetime of memories alongside her family on Hawaii's beaches.
Always chasing the sunshine, if Nancy wasn't traveling, she was gardening. She also enjoyed cooking—a talent inherited under her mother's tutelage—and Nancy's backyard oasis was made all the more inviting by the meals she happily prepared for family and friends.
Among those friends, Mark Hale, who, after 40 years of quiet friendship fell in love with Nancy's adventurous optimism and kind heart. The couple spent the past 4 years traveling, hiking, motorcycle riding, gardening and most importantly making each other laugh .
Nancy truly was the life of every party, instigating songs and pranks, recounting fond family memories, and always quick with a joke. Her laughter and zest for life will be greatly missed.
Nancy is survived by her partner and best friend, Mark Hale; son, Nicholas Nazzise; brother, Greg (Patsy) Reece; sisters Becky (Don) Young, Jan (Chris) Kontgis, and Jill (Steve) McAfee; sister-in-law, Mary Reece; along with many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Tom R. Johnson; father, Thomas Reece; mother, Shanna Dee Black; stepfather, John L. Black; and brother, Thomas Reece.
Born Sept. 23, 1952, in Payson, UT, to Shanna and Thomas Reece, Nancy was eager to laugh with and to lift those around her. From a young age, Nancy lived with a singular purpose: joy. That joy echoed in her unforgettable laugh and was apparent in the life she crafted.
For Nancy, no opportunity was too small nor challenge too daunting, and she attacked life with optimism.
After graduating from Olympus High School (SLC) she attended the nursing program at SLCC graduating with her RN certification. Nancy worked at the University of Utah, as a nurse in the newborn intensive care unit at Primary Children's Hospital. She took care of the smallest and sickest babies and formed longtime friendships with the families.
She loved serving the children and families in her care yet knew there was more she could do to help and eventually returned to the University of Utah to become a physician's assistant. She worked as a pediatric PA at the University's Greenwood Clinic in Midvale, UT. She loved her position and worked tirelessly to insure her patients were happy and healthy. Ever ready to help and to heal, Nancy was, of course, the first phone call when a beloved niece or nephew was hurt or ill.
Nancy worked just as tirelessly for her own family, including her son, Nicholas Nazzise, and husband, Tom Johnson (deceased). The three called Sandy and then Draper, UT, home, where Nancy made many good friends among the family's neighbors and colleagues.
Nancy loved to travel. She loved the beach, enjoyed cruises and—much like her dad—considered Kona, Hawaii, her second home. She built a lifetime of memories alongside her family on Hawaii's beaches.
Always chasing the sunshine, if Nancy wasn't traveling, she was gardening. She also enjoyed cooking—a talent inherited under her mother's tutelage—and Nancy's backyard oasis was made all the more inviting by the meals she happily prepared for family and friends.
Among those friends, Mark Hale, who, after 40 years of quiet friendship fell in love with Nancy's adventurous optimism and kind heart. The couple spent the past 4 years traveling, hiking, motorcycle riding, gardening and most importantly making each other laugh .
Nancy truly was the life of every party, instigating songs and pranks, recounting fond family memories, and always quick with a joke. Her laughter and zest for life will be greatly missed.
Nancy is survived by her partner and best friend, Mark Hale; son, Nicholas Nazzise; brother, Greg (Patsy) Reece; sisters Becky (Don) Young, Jan (Chris) Kontgis, and Jill (Steve) McAfee; sister-in-law, Mary Reece; along with many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Tom R. Johnson; father, Thomas Reece; mother, Shanna Dee Black; stepfather, John L. Black; and brother, Thomas Reece.
Nancy Gay Reece Nazzise, 64, died May 9, 2017, with her family by her side. Her sudden passing has left a hole in her family that will be impossible to fill.
Born Sept. 23, 1952, in Payson, UT, to Shanna and Thomas Reece, Nancy was eager to laugh with and to lift those around her. From a young age, Nancy lived with a singular purpose: joy. That joy echoed in her unforgettable laugh and was apparent in the life she crafted.
For Nancy, no opportunity was too small nor challenge too daunting, and she attacked life with optimism.
After graduating from Olympus High School (SLC) she attended the nursing program at SLCC graduating with her RN certification. Nancy worked at the University of Utah, as a nurse in the newborn intensive care unit at Primary Children's Hospital. She took care of the smallest and sickest babies and formed longtime friendships with the families.
She loved serving the children and families in her care yet knew there was more she could do to help and eventually returned to the University of Utah to become a physician's assistant. She worked as a pediatric PA at the University's Greenwood Clinic in Midvale, UT. She loved her position and worked tirelessly to insure her patients were happy and healthy. Ever ready to help and to heal, Nancy was, of course, the first phone call when a beloved niece or nephew was hurt or ill.
Nancy worked just as tirelessly for her own family, including her son, Nicholas Nazzise, and husband, Tom Johnson (deceased). The three called Sandy and then Draper, UT, home, where Nancy made many good friends among the family's neighbors and colleagues.
Nancy loved to travel. She loved the beach, enjoyed cruises and—much like her dad—considered Kona, Hawaii, her second home. She built a lifetime of memories alongside her family on Hawaii's beaches.
Always chasing the sunshine, if Nancy wasn't traveling, she was gardening. She also enjoyed cooking—a talent inherited under her mother's tutelage—and Nancy's backyard oasis was made all the more inviting by the meals she happily prepared for family and friends.
Among those friends, Mark Hale, who, after 40 years of quiet friendship fell in love with Nancy's adventurous optimism and kind heart. The couple spent the past 4 years traveling, hiking, motorcycle riding, gardening and most importantly making each other laugh .
Nancy truly was the life of every party, instigating songs and pranks, recounting fond family memories, and always quick with a joke. Her laughter and zest for life will be greatly missed.
Nancy is survived by her partner and best friend, Mark Hale; son, Nicholas Nazzise; brother, Greg (Patsy) Reece; sisters Becky (Don) Young, Jan (Chris) Kontgis, and Jill (Steve) McAfee; sister-in-law, Mary Reece; along with many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Tom R. Johnson; father, Thomas Reece; mother, Shanna Dee Black; stepfather, John L. Black; and brother, Thomas Reece.
Born Sept. 23, 1952, in Payson, UT, to Shanna and Thomas Reece, Nancy was eager to laugh with and to lift those around her. From a young age, Nancy lived with a singular purpose: joy. That joy echoed in her unforgettable laugh and was apparent in the life she crafted.
For Nancy, no opportunity was too small nor challenge too daunting, and she attacked life with optimism.
After graduating from Olympus High School (SLC) she attended the nursing program at SLCC graduating with her RN certification. Nancy worked at the University of Utah, as a nurse in the newborn intensive care unit at Primary Children's Hospital. She took care of the smallest and sickest babies and formed longtime friendships with the families.
She loved serving the children and families in her care yet knew there was more she could do to help and eventually returned to the University of Utah to become a physician's assistant. She worked as a pediatric PA at the University's Greenwood Clinic in Midvale, UT. She loved her position and worked tirelessly to insure her patients were happy and healthy. Ever ready to help and to heal, Nancy was, of course, the first phone call when a beloved niece or nephew was hurt or ill.
Nancy worked just as tirelessly for her own family, including her son, Nicholas Nazzise, and husband, Tom Johnson (deceased). The three called Sandy and then Draper, UT, home, where Nancy made many good friends among the family's neighbors and colleagues.
Nancy loved to travel. She loved the beach, enjoyed cruises and—much like her dad—considered Kona, Hawaii, her second home. She built a lifetime of memories alongside her family on Hawaii's beaches.
Always chasing the sunshine, if Nancy wasn't traveling, she was gardening. She also enjoyed cooking—a talent inherited under her mother's tutelage—and Nancy's backyard oasis was made all the more inviting by the meals she happily prepared for family and friends.
Among those friends, Mark Hale, who, after 40 years of quiet friendship fell in love with Nancy's adventurous optimism and kind heart. The couple spent the past 4 years traveling, hiking, motorcycle riding, gardening and most importantly making each other laugh .
Nancy truly was the life of every party, instigating songs and pranks, recounting fond family memories, and always quick with a joke. Her laughter and zest for life will be greatly missed.
Nancy is survived by her partner and best friend, Mark Hale; son, Nicholas Nazzise; brother, Greg (Patsy) Reece; sisters Becky (Don) Young, Jan (Chris) Kontgis, and Jill (Steve) McAfee; sister-in-law, Mary Reece; along with many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Tom R. Johnson; father, Thomas Reece; mother, Shanna Dee Black; stepfather, John L. Black; and brother, Thomas Reece.
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