Memorial services for Nancy Ann Branigh will be held on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m., at Family Bible Church with Pastor Ron Willis officiating. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to follow at a later date.

Nancy Ann Branigh, 40, died at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Feb. 13, 2004, following complications from surgery. She was born July 23, 1963, in Mexico, Mo., to Wallace Dowell and Neva (Cox) Carter. She graduated from Mexico High School in 1981 and attended Central Missouri State College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in education in 1985.

Nancy taught elementary education classes in the Kansas City School District for at time. Through operation Dear Abby, she wrote letters to a serviceman overseas. The person Nancy wrote to was Ernest Branigh, stationed in Singapore with the U.S. Navy. From that letter writing, a romance blossomed and Dec. 28, 1990, she was married to Ernie in Independence, Mo.

Nancy and Ernie moved to San Diego for 18 months and then on to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. Oak Harbor became their permanent home 11 years ago. Two sons were born in Oak Harbor, Benjamin and Gabriel. Five years ago, Nancy opened her own child care business, Little Hands ChildCare Preschool in Oak Harbor.

Nancy loved nature, hiking and her preschool. She was most proud of her children and her work with children.

Nancy Branigh is survived by her husband Ernest and two sons, Benjamin and Gabriel, at the family home; her parents, Wallace and Neva Carter of Mexico, Mo.; one sister, Carla Frazier and brother-in-law David of Springfield, Mo.; a niece Erin and Nephew Ian of Springfield, Mo. She is also survived by her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Leotis and Yayoi Branigh and sister-in-law Patricia all of Tacoma, and brother-in-law Leotis Jr. (Linda) and nephew Leotis III of Lewiston, Idaho, and a host of loving friends.

Memorials may be made to the Branigh Family account, c/o Navy Federal Credit Union, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.