Nancy Walker Shanks, age 92, passed away at her home April 21, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was born to Lloyd and Lucille Keys Walker, September 13, 1931.

She grew up on a farm in the Sulphur Springs Community. She had many wonderful stories of playing on the farm as a child and having dance parties at her home as a teen. In 1948 she was selected as the Burley Bowl queen of the Sulphur Springs Community. Nancy, fondly nicknamed “Sput”, was a cheerleader, yearbook art editor, and voted Most Generous at Sulphur Springs High School. She graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 1949. After high school, she attended Tennessee Wesleyan College.

In 1953 she married her husband, John. They were married for almost 60 years until he passed.
They lived in Corpus Christi, Texas where John was stationed in the Navy. While there, Nancy worked as switchboard operator. Eventually, they returned to Tennessee where they raised their family in Johnson City. Nancy’s life cannot truly be portrayed by mere words. Her life was a life of love and care for her family. She was a loving daughter, wife, and mother of five children. She devoted her life to her family and always made sure all were well taken care of. She found joy in taking care of her husband, children, and grandchildren, and selflessly cared for her parents, aunt, uncle and in-laws when their health declined.

Nancy loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed reading, going for rides through the country, gardening, taking trips to the beach, collecting elephants, looking at family photos, and sharing stories about old memories of family and friends.

Throughout her life she was an active member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist and Sulphur Springs Methodist Church. She enjoyed volunteering at the Johnson City Medical Center gift shop and with the Sulphur Springs UMC kitchen team.

In 1989, she and John moved to the family farm. The farm had been in her family for generations and she initiated action to get the farm approved as a Century Farm, a goal that was proudly accomplished in 2021.

Nancy is survived by her children: Sam Shanks and his wife Barbara, Gail Shanks, Susan West and her husband Jim, Audrey Shanks and Thomas Joo, and Leyla Haverlock and her husband Mark; by eight grandchildren: Rachel Shanks, Jake Shanks, Patrick Shanks, Ray Smith, Shane West, Dustin West, Sarah Taylor, and Austin Haverlock; by several great grandchildren, and by her nieces and nephews: Mark Shanks, Carla Gentry, Jerome Franklin, and Lora Poe.

She was preceded in death by both parents and her husband, John Shanks.

The family will receive friends at Sulphur Springs Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 11:00am to 12:00pm. A memorial service will follow at 12:00pm. Graveside services will follow at the Sulphur Springs Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be her grandchildren.

Those who desire to make memorial donations may do so to Sulphur Springs Methodist Church at 1432 Gray-Sulphur Springs Road, Jonesborough, TN 37659 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.

Condolences may be sent to the Shanks family online at www.dillow-taylor.com

Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Jonesborough, 423-753-3821