Nan Fox

Mrs. W. Irby Fox, née Nan Netherton, of Abilene, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 3, 2014 at a local hospital after a brief illness.

Nan Mae Netherton was born on September 1, 1926 on the Netherton Farm in Valley Creek, Fannin County, Texas to the late Mr. and Mrs. John Howard Netherton. On Easter Sunday in 1946 at the age of nineteen, she married Jimmy Bob Anderson, a Marine who had been liberated from a Japanese prisoner of war camp at the conclusion of World War II. Jimmy passed away a few months after their wedding as a result of his years as a prisoner of war.

Mrs. Fox attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and while working at the VA Hospital, met Dr. W. Irby Fox. On June 29, 1950 at the age of twenty-three, she married Dr. Fox in his mother's home in Abilene. After a year in residency in Tulsa, the couple returned to Abilene and Dr. Fox began his life-long medical practice. They were blessed with five children: Leslie, Suzanne, Janan, Mark, and Melinda.

Mrs. Fox spent her life loving and working for her family, and kept a lovely home that was always warm and welcoming. Mrs. Fox enjoyed giving gifts and was always looking for special items for those she loved. She prayed for each and every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild every day. She was an affectionate, caring, and nurturing Southern lady. Her children call her blessed.

Her survivors include her children and their spouses: Pastor and Mrs. Leslie Fox of Madison, Georgia; Mr. and Mrs. W. Ferdie Walker (Suzanne) of Stamford, Texas; Dr. and Mrs. John Beckerdite (Janan) of Lake Jackson, Texas; Vice Admiral and Mrs. Mark Irby Fox of Tampa, Florida; Mr. and Mrs. Michael Brown (Melinda) of Plano, Texas. Her grandchildren are Lieutenant and Mrs. William Barrett Fox and children, Simon, Oliver, and Penelope of Alexandria, Virginia; Lieutenant and Mrs. Collin Reeves Fox and children, Caedmon and Caitlin of Norfolk, Virginia; Lieutenant and Mrs. Mason Bradley Fox and children, Annika and Johanna of Norfolk, Virginia; Abigail Cole Fox of Washington, D.C.; Mr. and Mrs. Steven McArthur (Mary Elizabeth) of Fort Worth, Texas; John Ferdie Walker of Stamford, Texas; Charles Bradley Walker of Stamford, Texas; Bradley Payne Beckerdite of Lake Jackson, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Roblyer (Hannah) of San Antonio, Texas; Karis Rachel Lee Fox of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Amelia Suzanne Brown of Plano, Texas. She is also survived by her sister, Mrs. T. G. McLain (Nell) of Leonard, Texas. She has many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will also miss her sweet presence.

Mrs. Fox was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. W. Irby Fox; a granddaughter, Melinda Suzanne Walker; and her brother, John Howard Netherton.

Mrs. Fox was a devoted Christian and a long-standing member of Abilene Bible Church. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at 10:00 am in the chapel at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street, Abilene, Texas. Interment will be at the Valley Creek Cemetery in Leonard, Texas at 5:30 pm that day. A visitation with the family will be on Monday, July 7, 2014, from 5 to 7 pm, at Piersall Funeral Directors.

Memorials may be made to Cook Children's Medical Center, 801 Seventh Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76104. The family would like to thank the staff at Wesley Court for their loving care of Mrs. Fox.