March 4, 1946 - May 31, 2022
Nancy J. Graham, 76, of Loveland, Colorado passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Nancy was born in Greeley, Colorado on March 4, 1946, to Frederick W. Schmer and Lydia (Peppler) Schmer. She and her older brother were raised on the family farm, often referred to as the "big yellow farmhouse" at I-25 and Hwy 34. While growing up she took dance and music lessons (accordion, clarinet, piano and organ) and enjoyed riding her horses. After graduating from Loveland High School in 1964, she went to Colorado State University for two years before moving to Denver for one year. She then married and spent 21 years in Southern California before moving back to Loveland in 1988. Once back in Colorado, she worked at the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment for one year before transferring to Colorado State University and working as an administrative assistant for the Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Neurosciences program until her retirement in 2016.
Nancy loved her family, friends, animals (both farm and companion), managing the family farm, volunteering as a Larimer County 4-H leader (over 40 years) and for the Miss Rodeo Colorado Pageant where she served as a chaperone for contestants. She inherited her love of animals and agriculture from her parents and passed this love onto her family. Nancy was also an avid sports fan of the Denver Broncos, CSU Rams (season ticket holder) and Colorado Rockies.
She is survived by her daughters, Tané Leach (Steve) and Tara Rowe (Brad); granddaughters, Mallory Witcher (Blaze) and Milana Rowe; grandsons, Mitchell Leach (Kaitlyn) and Braxton Rowe; great-granddaughter Jo-Lee James (JJ) Witcher; sister-in-law, Mary Buckmiller; and longtime companion, Bruce Helzer. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Frederick A. Schmer.
There will be a viewing at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at the First Congregational Church, 800 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland, with the service to begin at 11:00 AM. Afterwards, a graveside service will take place at Resthaven Memory Gardens. A reception will follow at Resthaven.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Larimer County 4-H or the Miss Rodeo Colorado Pageant in care of Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home. To view the obituary, send condolences, and sign the guest book, go to www.kibbeyfishburn.com.
