Nancy H. Preble

Nancy H. (McClain) Preble

, 87, a retired educator, died at her home in Mesa on July 21, of natural causes. Nancy was born at home in Rossville, Kansas on March 30, 1929, the 7th child of Roy and Eva (Trimble) McClain. Penny, as she was nicknamed, graduated from Rossville High School in 1947. She met the love of her life, Walter C Preble when she was in high school. Their love grew through letters exchanged during his service in the US Army. They were married on February 16, 1948 in Lincoln, Nebraska. They enjoyed 44 years of marriage until Walt preceded her in death in 1992. They lived in Grove, Kansas until buying land and building a home just outside Rossville, Kansas. Penny worked as a bookkeeper at Farm Bureau Insurance and KPL, but most of her life was dedicated to caring for and teaching children. She was a paraprofessional in a special needs preschool at Rossville and Delia Elementary Schools before moving to Arizona in 1984. She worked at Gilbert Junior High School, retiring in 1997 to care for her grandchildren. A lifelong sports fan, Penny loved cheering her kids as they played baseball, football, basketball, softball and volleyball, or raced mini-spring cars. She also became an avid Suns fan upon her arrival in the Valley.

She is survived by a sister, Mazie, of Rossville; four sons, Myles (Noree) and Mark (Phet), both of Salt Lake City, UT; Chris (Tammy), of Sun City; and Jim (Lynn) of Mesa, and one daughter, Karen (Dan) Clayton, of Phoenix; 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be 10 am, Wednesday, July 27, at Queen of Heaven Cemetary in Mesa. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:  Gilbert Junior High School Library.