Nancy Beach Bourns

Nancy Beach Bourns, aged 84 years, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 27, 2020, at home in Martinez.  Diagnosed with cancer in August, Nancy chose to live her final days in hospice, cared for by her son Cottar and her daughter-in-law, Angela.  Nancy was an explorer, a force, and boundary pusher. In 1963, as a young woman, she moved to San Francisco to make a new life for herself.  In 1964, she became a teacher, and for 30 years touched the lives of many young people from diverse backgrounds. A natural and extremely talented artist, she dedicated herself to the challenges of mutilple artistic mediums to express her talent. The zenith of her talents was in quilting and stained glass.  Over the years in Martinez she developed and nutured many relationships with like minded artists. She was as consipicuous as a peacock wandering around Martinez with her muti-colored hair.  Nancy was loved by those that had the priveledge of knowing her, and in return she benefited from the power that art derives, bringing people together.  Nancy will be missed.