Nancy Ann Berry Nancy Ann Darby (Berry) caught a comet's

Nancy Ann Berry Nancy Ann Darby (Berry) caught a comet's tail at high noon on the Fourth of July 2025 and has been soaring through the galaxies since. Nancy, who loved New Mexico for the 66 years she lived here, started in a small town in Texas December 16, 1936. Nancy was attending Esalon Academy at the age of 7 after her father died in a TB camp and her mother went to work for what was yet to become the CIA during WWII. There she honed the impeccable social skills, confidence, and kindness to others she brought to every occasion. By age 14 she was raising herself and her younger brothers while her mother was a legal secretary by day and Tango dancer by night, as Nancy often described her. She was Captain of the swim team and a lifeguard, and before she even had a license, she helped her mother by chauffeuring her every day into downtown Dallas, her younger brothers hiding their eyes in the backseat. Nancy took on the responsibility of parenting her younger brothers and running the household while at the same time being one of the smartest and most popular girls in school. After college, like many women in the 1950s, her career choices were limited. The insurance industry presented her the best opportunity for advancement. After working for several years in administration, she aspired to be an auto claims adjuster. As fast as this position was promised, it was taken away over the weekend - given to a young married UNM basketball star. Thus began the first EEOC victory for women in New Mexico. While there was no monetary award, that national insurance company was ordered to hire 5,000 women claims adjusters nationwide. Allstate Insurance offered Nancy a claims adjuster position where Nancy set new standards of excellence. Not only did she get remarkable results for her customers, but she also helped mechanic shops that were fair and did excellent work become uber successful, making several of them multi-millionaires through her continuing referrals. Nancy also stepped up for her customers, many older women, whose cars could not be repaired, meeting them on car lots to negotiate fair deals. Allstate's President's Annual Customer Service Award was awarded to Nancy not once - but twice! Her co-workers became her extended family, sharing and celebrating life events. Work was not just work. "Hello-I'm Nancy Berry. Pleased to meet you!" and that's how it all began. As we've all experienced, she was not just a new friend but one that would touch your heart more playfully and deeply than you could ever imagine. For that is what she inspired-our imaginations! From telling stories of her hilarious outrageous childhood adventures to sharing the poignancy of her real life experiences, Nancy opened hearts. She had the amazing gift to soften even the most protected heart. Nancy created an open-hearted community around her where ever she was. Nancy was a friend, storyteller, confidant, mentor, cheerleader, commiserater, rascal -bold, brave door-opener for the thousands of lives she touched. How blessed to be seen and loved by Nancy Berry. She was a class act and will be remembered and dearly missed. Survived by brothers: Orman Darby, son John Winston and wife Gina; John Monty Hayner and wife Drew, daughter Wendy and her wife Tonie and their 2 children Skylar and Walker; and sister Elisabeth Huston and husband James and their 3 children John, Shelby and Jason. Special appreciation to Jann Pierce for her 25 years of love and care to the very end. And to the dozens of "family" in the LGBTQ community. Get in touch: nancyberry252@gmail.com "The Sacred and the Sacrilegious Life Celebrations of Nancy Berry" will be held at First Unitarian Church on August 8th, 2025 at 3pm moving on to a bar TBD. Bring your laughter and your stories!