Nancy Mallory Balke  passed away peacefully on August 30, 2022 with her loving sons and husband by her side.

Nancy was born on February 18, 1938 in Harlingen, Texas to Earl and Annie Mae Mallory.  Her young years were spent in Harlingen, Tx.  The family moved to Baytown, Tx in 1942, where she graduated from Robert E Lee high school in 1956. While visiting her sister, Dorla, in College Station, she was set up on a blind date with an Aggie named Wayne Balke, who became the love of her life for 64 years.

Nancy and Wayne spent most of their married life in Baytown rearing four children and being active in Memorial Baptist Church, which is where she was baptized as a young girl.

Nancy was a loving and generous mother to her four children,  always supportive of all of their school and sporting activities.  She was also a wonderful cook and willing to host any occasion. One of her biggest joys in life was large family gatherings with her three sisters, their husbands and their children.

Nancy and Wayne moved to Huntsville, Tx in 1997 after Wayne retired from Exxon.  Nancy formed many new friendships and enjoyed her time living on the golf course at Elkins Lake, where she scored two hole-in-ones in just a few years on the course. She was an avid gardener and took pride in her yard, which was always one of the prettiest and most colorful on the golf course.

She and Wayne loved to travel and enjoyed many years traveling the U.S., Europe, and Mexico. Nancy and Wayne especially enjoyed Cruising to visiting many ports, in the U.S. and abroad.

She was a member of  Elkins Lake Baptist Church and spent many years in service there.

Meme, as she is known to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, loved telling stories and bragging of their many accomplishments.  She was always ready to jump in the car and visit them, no matter how far away they moved, including Texas, Wyoming,  Idaho and Florida.

Nancy is preceded in death by her parents Earl and Annie Mae Mallory, daughter Sherilyn Balke, granddaughter Heather Michele Balke, sister Dorla Dittman and her husband Donnie, nephew Douglas Dittman and her brother-in-law Gordon Balke.

Nancy is survived by her husband Wayne Balke, sons David Balke and wife Lonni, Roger Balke and wife Laurie, and  Brent Balke and wife Jessica. " Meme" is survived by her grandchildren Brooklyn Balke, Kristen Peeples and husband Richard IV,  Samantha Larrow and husband Wayne, Cooper Balke and wife Lindy, Elaina Balke, Allysa Balke, Ryan Balke, Kaylee Starr, Amber Dobbs and husband Patrick. Her great-grandchildren are Sutten Peeples, Richard V (Bubby)Peeples, Scarlett Larrow, Cooper Larrow, Liam Dobbs and Margaret Dobbs. Also surviving her are her two sisters Gail Adams and Elray Couey and husband Richard, brother-in-law Glenn Michael Balke and wife Kathy, and sister-in-laws LaVada Balke and Loretta Bunt, along with her many nieces and nephews. All will miss her dearly.

A celebration of her life will be held in Huntsville, Tx. at Elkins Lake Baptist Church, 206 Texas Hwy 19 , on Thursday, September 8, 2022. Visitation will be at 1 pm, followed by the service at 2 pm. Reception to follow. The burial will be at Memory Gardens in Baytown, Texas on Friday, September 9, 2022 at 11 am.

Donations in memory of Nancy Balke may be made to the the ALS Association, The American Heart Association or to your charity of choice.

Thank you to Heritage Oak Funeral Home for their kindness and guidance shown during this difficult time.