Nancy A. Polster

It is with a heavy heart that we must now mark the passing of our precious mother, Nancy Ann Polster. But it is with great joy that we celebrate Nancy’s passing into  the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Funeral Service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 20, 2021 at Cottondale Baptist Church with burial in Cottondale Cemetery. Brother Charles Pugh will officiate. Pallbearers will be John Polster, Chris Polster, Charles Polster, David Polster, Tad Polster, Billy George, Reilly Polster, Dakota Polster, and Caleb Polster.  Family Lunch will be served at the church at Noon on Saturday at the church. 

Nancy was born September 15, 1931, in Fort Worth, Texas to Roxie and “Doc” Reilly.  After school, she landed a job with an advertising agency where she wrote copy and did artwork for the Fort Worth Press for department stores like Leonard’s, Stripling’s, and Cox’s. 

At the age of 21, she went on a blind date with an Airman from Wichita Falls named William Polster.  Six weeks later, on September 8, 1952, they were married and remained so for 68 years until her sweetheart’s death in 2020.

Nancy was both creative and talented.  She could paint, write, sew, play the piano, and make beautiful quilts.  She raised money for various Christian ministries and charitable organizations, started a library, and launched and ran successful businesses.  For a brief period, she even made fancy straw hats for all her girls. 

Her most significant gift was being a homemaker.  She considered it her greatest privilege and often commented that it was her most important calling and achievement in life.  To make a home is a monumental task for anyone, but Nancy did so for a family with nine children!  In part it involves budgets, decorating, cooking, cleaning, making holidays special, everyday tasks fun, and child-rearing… lots and lots of child rearing.

The home she made was welcoming and full of love and acceptance.  This sense of “welcome” extended to a parade of neighborhood kids and friends throughout the years.

Nancy, Mom, was most of all a woman of faith, an abiding, innate faith and love for the Lord.  When faced with hard times and hardship, she did so with a strength and dignity that comes only from a firm foundation provided by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

She was also known for her quick wit, finding humor in almost any situation and a determination to live on the sunny side of life.

For those who listened, her lessons were innumerable.  Of course, she taught most all of us to cook, sew, read, garden, decorate, plan a party… the list could go on forever.  Most importantly, she taught us life lessons that were steeped in love and Christianity at its finest. 

She taught by example; how to be a steadfast helpmate, not just to our spouses, but also to our church family and our community. 

She taught us the fine art of being charitable, which sometimes meant giving money, but many times it meant giving of your time and lots of hard work.

By example, she taught some of us forgiveness.  She was committed to forgiveness, and she has certainly had many opportunities to forgive!  Those who have benefitted from her forgiveness and were blessed by its unconditionality know the joy of being wrapped in her love.

Throughout her life, she accomplished many things that have touched many lives.  Some will continue to do so for many years to come.  She was instrumental in starting the group “Together We Can,” a fellowship of women from her church family that addressed the real-life needs for several Christian ministries.  She believed in civic duty, and in June of 1970, she organized and led a group to establish a library for North Richland Hills.  She spearheaded the collection of books all over the community and state.  The library was given a home in an abandoned store in Richland Plaza Shopping Center.  Today, the NRH Library is housed in a 62,000 square foot facility located in NRH Town Center.  All these things have left a lasting legacy that makes our family very proud.

Nancy is preceded in death by her beloved husband, William “Bill” Polster and two sons, William Francis, Jr. and James Polster.

Those left behind to cherish her memory are 4 sons: John Polster and wife Lisa of Denton, Chris Polster and wife Dixie of N. Richland Hills, Charles Polster of Cottondale, and David Polster of New Braunfels; 4 daughters: Frances Polster and husband Robert of Euless, Carol Christ and husband Phil of Willmington, NC, Patsy Williams and husband Chad of N. Richland Hills, Mary McCracken of Big Fork, MT; 22 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews: other relatives; and a host of friends.

Out of an abundance of caution due to COVID-19, we ask all who attend the service to wear masks and regret that there will be no gathering of family or friends after the service.  Special thanks to the staff of Solaris Hospice for their care and consideration during Nancy’s final days.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nancy A. Polster, please visit our floral store.