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As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:
Nancy Carol Sayner, passed away on April 27, 2020 in Eufaula, Alabama.
She was the daughter of Laurence Sayner and Ruth Blake Sayner and was born in Cleveland, Ohio. The family moved a few years later to Detroit and subsequently to Bay City, Michigan where her father became Chief Engineer at the Bay City General Motors plant. Nancy attended McKinley Elementary School and T.L. Handy High School. She graduated from T.L. Handy High School receiving a private scholarship upon graduation and subsequently attended Bay City Junior College for one year and then transferred to the University of Michigan School of Nursing. Nancy graduated from the University of Michigan with her Bachelors Degree in Nursing. She was then employed by the University of Michigan Medical Center until she resigned to travel Europe. Upon her return from Europe she served as a Staff Nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI. and the Washtenaw County Nurses Bureau. Nancy then with friends traveled to San Francisco, CA where she was employed by the United States Public Health Hospital and the Visiting Nurse’s Association. She subsequently attended the Univ. of California School of Nursing and received her Health and Development Credential where upon she was employed by the Oakland Public Schools as a School Nurse. Nancy left Oakland and joined the Navy Nurse Corps during the Vietnam Crisis serving at Pensacola Naval Hospital as a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit and as Operating Room Supervisor. In addition, she was assigned to the U.S. Naval Dispensary in London, England serving as Nursing Supervisor.
Returning to the states, Nancy enrolled in the Masters of Science in Nursing program at the University of California, San Francisco. She taught in the undergraduate program for approximately two years receiving an “Outstanding Faculty Award” from students. She the enrolled in the Doctorate of Nursing Science Program graduating with her DNSc (1976) three years later. Nancy then accepted a teaching position with Duke University School of Nursing where she taught junior and senior students of Nursing as well as graduate students of Nursing. She became Senior Year Chairperson after teaching for two years. Nancy left Duke University after five years when the Undergraduate Program was scheduled to be deleted and accepted and Associate Dean’s position at Texas Christian University College of Nursing. In this position Nancy’s responsibilities included both administrative and teaching (research and clinical supervision of students). She continued in this position for over eleven years and was awarded Emeritus status upon her retirement. She also remained in the Navy Nurse Corps Reserves retiring with the rank of Captain. Leaving Fort Worth she retired in Eagle Harbor, Michigan, and subsequently opened and operated a giftshop, “Nature’s Niche” with a friend for eight years.
Nancy maintained memberships in the American Nurses Association, Naval Reserve Association, and the Navy Nurse Corps Association. In addition, she is a lifetime member of the University of Michigan, University of California, the Naval Reserve Association, and the Eagle Harbor Historical Society.
She will be deeply missed by her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A graveside service with military rites will be held in August in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Eagle Harbor.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements.
