Nancy Lou Kersh's Obituary
Nancy Lou Graham Kersh of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and a long-time resident of Russellville, Arkansas, passed away Thursday, August 22, 2019, in Fayetteville. She was the daughter of Ethel and Homer Graham and was born January 10, 1933, in Oden, Arkansas.
After graduation from high school, she attended Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. While a co-ed, and in a curious turn of events that can only be attributed to fate, Nancy’s and another young man’s destinies would be sealed. Following a winter’s snowfall in which students were cavorting in a snowball fight, Nancy was knocked unconscious by a young man’s errant snowball. That young man turned out to be the love of her life, the future Dr. Kenneth Kersh and her husband for nearly six decades. Following graduation, she went on to become a flight attendant for Braniff International Airways. Braniff was the last of the true first-class airlines that included flight attendants wearing uniforms designed by Emillo Pucci. After her flight career she married Kenneth Kersh in New York, New York, on a televised NBC show. Following some time as an English teacher in Dardanelle, Arkansas, as a newlywed, Nancy settled into her chosen career as the wife to Kenneth and a loving mother to their five children: Graham; Richard; Kimberly; Georgia; and Nana.
Nancy became the First Lady of Arkansas Tech University in 1973. During her twenty-year tenure, she hosted and entertained government officials, senators, and presidents. Also, amongst her guests were world famous author Norman Mailer and Jean-Michel Cousteau, the son of oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. Nancy would wow her guests with her famous dinner parties and cooking. She was once presented with a citation from the Arkansas House of Representatives stating how delicious her homemade biscuits with ham and sausage were. Adding to her culinary prowess, Nancy owned one of the very first commercial Wolf stoves before they became a standard residential item. She often referred to her stove as her alter to the amusement and delight of friends, family, and guests.
Not only was she a gracious hostess and First Lady, but Nancy was a lover of children, nature, and animals. She famously had a pet deer affectionately named “Deer” that briefly lived in the backyard of the Arkansas Tech president’s residence. Nancy rarely missed a day of swimming, and her love for water was undeniable. A strong advocate for swimming, she encouraged anyone who had her audience to adopt the sport as it allowed participation at any fitness level. She learned how to swim in her beloved Ouachita River in Pine Ridge, Arkansas. Nancy was responsible for bringing SCAN (Suspected Child Abuse & Neglect) to Pope County, Arkansas, and she was an avid volunteer for the organization, especially to the children that SCAN served. She was a member of the Arkansas Tech Dames Club and a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Russellville. Nancy’s life was motivated by her devotion to her faith, love of family and friends, and the nature that surrounded her in her beloved home state of Arkansas. Nancy never met a stranger and always found that special spark in those around her-always paying compliments and encouragement and letting people know how special they were.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents and beloved husband Kenneth. She is survived by her five children: Graham Kersh (wife Lily) of Russellville, AR; Richard Kersh (wife Gina) of Dardanelle, AR; Kimberly Kersh of Dardanelle, AR; Georgia Kersh Dye of Russellville, AR; and Nana Kersh Winters (husband David) of Fayetteville, AR. Nancy is also survived by seven much loved grandchildren: Jessica Kersh Hunt (husband Kyle); Lauren Kersh; Shelby Dye; Savannah Dye Johnston (husband Wendel); William Kersh; Dane Winters; and Nash Winters.
A private family interment will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/
What’s your fondest memory of Nancy?
What’s a lesson you learned from Nancy?
Share a story where Nancy's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Nancy you’ll never forget.
How did Nancy make you smile?
