Beloved mother, grandmother, wife and friend Nancy Jane Maynard Irle, 78, passed away Jan. 29, 2017.

Nancy was born in Beaumont, Texas Jan. 27, 1939 to Creighton Charles Maynard and Allyne Gladys McConathy Maynard.

She is survived by her loving husband James Donald “Don” Irle; her daughter, Daniella Jayne Irle and her spouse Kristen Jezek; her brother, Creighton Charles Maynard Jr.; her three grandchildren, Jayme Danielle, Haleigh Jane and Danny Kristopher; her sisters-in-law, Glenda Norwood, Beverly Maynard and Glenda Maynard and many loved cousins, nephews, nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews, their families and a wealth of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Nancy was active in her respective communities for many years as a public school elementary teacher and reading specialist, a pianist/musical director and a friend. During her years in the South Park school district and throughout her college years at Lamar University in Beaumont, she was active in many school organizations and community events including choir, drama club, student council, pep squad, the Neches River Festival, piano recitals and Delta Gamma.

She started her elementary teaching career in Beaumont and married the love of her life on June 8, 1962, following a 6-year courtship that started with a blind date her senior year in high school. She relocated with her husband to Louisiana and became a mother in 1965.

During her time in Louisiana, she was an elementary teacher during the difficult years of integration but she was steadfast in her belief that all children deserved a quality education and she never lost sight of that ideal. Nancy also served as the music director for multiple churches and schools bringing music and the arts to many for the first time.

She helped start a summer musical production group for area youth that existed for many years and she was heavily involved as the music director for those summer productions until her family relocated to the Houston area in 1978. Nancy continued teaching for many years in Clear Creek ISD elementary schools.

Annual summer family vacations to historic locations, trips to visit family, camping, and time at the beach provided great memories to her daughter and husband and extended family members. Nancy was an active member for a period of time with Cokesbury United Methodist church and more recently Crossroads UMC until her death.

Upon retirement, Nancy remained very active. She volunteered for many years at Space Center Houston (NASA) and was an active member of Red Hat Society, Clear Creek Association of Retired Teachers (CCART), and served as an officer for multiple motorhome and camping clubs. In addition, Nancy participated in bridge groups, Delta Kappa Gamma and continued to travel with family and friends.

One of the great joys of her retirement was traveling extensively throughout the United States with her husband and visiting her daughter, daughter-in-law and grandchildren in California, Louisiana and North Dakota and other friends and family throughout the United States.

One of her greatest joys throughout her entire life, in addition to playing the piano, was spending time at the beach. From her youth and into the twilight of her life, Nancy’s family owned beach houses on Bolivar peninsula and the beach was a constant love in her life. Growing up Nancy enjoyed time on Bolivar with her parents, her big brother and her friends. Into adulthood that family time at the beach grew to include a daughter, husband, niece, two nephews and cousins.

Most recently, Nancy continued to share her love for the beach as she traveled to Galveston often with her daughter, daughter-in-law and grandchildren Jayme, Haleigh and Danny and other friends and family.

Nancy lived her life to the fullest.

Her energy, zest for life, independence and strength will always be remembered by family and friends. She lived a remarkable and full life and was a role model to many throughout her life.

A memorial service is being held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 at Crossroads United Methodist Church, 10030 Scarsdale Blvd. in Houston.