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.
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About |
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| Name | Nancy Beach Bourns |
| Date of Birth | September 15th, 1936 |
| Date of Death | November 27th, 2020 |
| Home Town | Rahway, NJ, US |
| Other City | Martinez, CA, US |
| Interests | Painting, Drawing, Collage, Quilting, Photography, Stained Glass work, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Opera, Travel, Reading |
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Family |
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| Siblings | Barbara Ann Bourns, Elizabeth Ims, Gordon Bourns |
| Parents | Edward G. Bourns, Frances Crane |
| Children | Cottar Michaud |
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Milestones |
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| 1958 | Ohio Wesleyan, Bachelor's | ||
| 1964 - 1998 | Elementary School Teacher | ||
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A beautiful quilt I have, named “cabin fever”. It’s a daily reminder that life is wild. ESPECIALLY now.
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On behalf of the Contra Costa Quilters Guild, of which Nancy was a member, please know that we are sorry about your loss. If there is a charity that we could make a donation to in Nancy's name, would her family please contact [email protected]?
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Nancy was one of a kind who knew no strangers. She was a wonderful friend taking me shopping, quilting retreats and meetings. There were many times when we would get lost (I am no navigator) but she always found her way! Any photo opt she always made sure she had her lipstick on. She was always thrilled to surprise everyone with her rainbow hair and people young and old liked it and commented on it. She was a good friend who I will truly miss. RIP my friend.
Thank you Sherri! Yep my mom called the lipstick thing "putting on her face."
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I will truly miss my loving and artistic neighbor. When I moved to Estudillo Street in January of 2006 she embraced me right away.We did our first open studio and she asked me to set up in her backyard.
She was truly a remarkable artist, quilter and an overall beautiful person. I too fell ill and I was proud to see her healthy and enjoying life and embracing her most beautiful age. She often bragged of her son and his beautiful family. She also embraced mine. My children knew Nancy. I remember I was walking down the street and had a migraine and she greeted me but I continued trying to keep quiet and I hope she did not think I was ignoring her ...I was sad I could not explain to her
She will always be my heart and when I see that house I will think of her and the csrs
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Blue was my Mom's favorite cat, I think. A real lover. He was around 16 yrs old when we gave over care of him to one of my Mom's neighbors - the neighbor is a young lady who is a vet tech and an animal lover, so he got a good home.:)
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Our TGIQ (Thank god it’s quilting) mini-group last Christmas, 2019
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A page from Nancy’s “Once around the Pond” sketchbook. Her description says “Multi-tasking...AH, YOUTH, Eating an apple...while building a slide...at the water’s edge! At the Martinez Marina...”
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One of my favorites from her "Pond" book. Nancy-- her spirit and artistry--treasures in my life. Wendy
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Really, really enjoyed her book! What a great memorial of her. I’ll treasure it forever! Thans so much, Bonnie!
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Nancy Lives....In My Memory
Nancy is a summer breeze - meets everyone with Nancy ease. She dresses with her Nancy flair from flowered shoes to rainbow hair!
Nancy gives from her heart, the many samples of her art. Her creative pursuits - collage, watercolor, glass, fiber art...always on the ebb and flow, influence me to stretch and grow.
No fear or hesitation - A lifelong spirit of fun and adventure - and endless sense of imagination, make Nancy who she is to me.
So I know there is no end - to Nancy as a forever friend. Always in my heart and memory...Fancy Nancy
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Nancy was a unique woman. She was as hard as nails and as soft as a marshmallow. She was kind, loving, and considerate. She had a wonderful sense of humor. She was a walking piece of art with her clothes and hair with lots of color. Oh, how we will miss her! There is no one else quite like her. She was one of a kind, a wonderful kind.
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Such a lovely description. I didn't know Nancy well but I will never forget her. Such a beautiful soul! ❤️
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My life has been so enriched by knowing Nancy. She gave away her smiles , kindness, so much energy that motivated everyone around her . Grace, and love of life, sharing her wonderful creative talent as she touched our lives.
. I will miss you Nancy, I carry in my heart one of your smiles ❤️
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I met Nancy at the Rankin Aquatic center and immediately knew she was a very special lady. We also would see each other at the YMCA pool, chatting in the locker room. May she rest in peace, she will be missed.
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I gave Nan her choice of masks that I had made - No surprise that she selected the most colorful one!
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Nan was such a colorful, loving, energetic and artistic soul. So wonderful to have crossed paths with her in my life. She was my tie-dye shopping buddy and she gave me one of her lovely stained glass pieces. We'd sit on her front stoop and she'd share her wonderful "life in the time of covid" water color journal with me. So many wonderful memories.
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I only knew her from Jazzercise
& seeing her @ Safeway. So full of life & a delight to be around. She will be missed.
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When we went back east Nancy kept saying she wanted to swim in the ocean. The Atlantic Ocean. When we got there, it was too cold. I made her get out of the bus, which only stopped there for her, and put her toes in the water. She was happy later...
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We took a trip back east to see the fall colors. She was sooooo surprised that people we just met wanted to take a picture with her. She never understood, They loved her hair and we were from California. what did you expect. She was fun to travel with and we traveled many times. I will miss her.
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I had the pleasure of meeting Nancy through Tops. I will miss her free spirit, great sense of humor, and infectious laugh. I admired all of her talents, especially her quilting and painting. She was so self confident. You never had to guess what her opinion on any subject was. She made a difference in this world and she will be greatly missed
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Nancy was so easy to get to know with that beautifully patterned pastels of hair! She said to me several times, as we age we become invisible, so color was her ageless response. I loved sharing a Senior Center times with her. Let’s celebrate a woman who truly lived an authentic life!
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Nancy made friends everywhere she went. Here in front of the shrine in Nara, Japan. January 2016
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