- Date Of Birth: December 12, 1933
- Date Of Death: April 8, 2022
- State: Colorado
The world has lost a great soul. Nancy Clare Tredway (88), passed peacefully in her home on April 8, 2022, surrounded by family.
Born on December 12, 1933, her life began with a few bumps. At age 2, while living in Mexico, she lost her father. Her mother, Mossy Livingston (deceased), had 48 hours to pack she and her brother Hugh Livingston (deceased) and vacate the country. They settled in Wichita Kansas, A couple of years later, she was hit by a car and spent months in the hospital. The silver lining of a tragic accident was the love for reading and playing the piano that developed during her long recovery. Those became passions that she would pursue forever.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Music (Southwestern), and a master’s degree in Education (Western State College) and shared her education with others for a lifetime.
She married Dan Tredway (deceased) in 1955. They taught in Nebraska, Wyoming, and New Mexico before landing at Western State College in 1963. Gunnison, Colorado became home for the family. Ever creative, instead of buying a house and moving in, they bought a house and moved it. The Sullivan house, which was prominent on Main Street was situated at 622 North Blvd. 622 became the basecamp for raising a family and fueling the community with her unmatched energy. She opened her arms to the world, including extended family, music groups, construction crews, classrooms of students, wrestling teams, cast members, lost climbers, teachers, professors, and wayward kids.
Her spirit will be carried forward by all that knew her including her 4 boys and their families: Mark (Gunnison), Matt and Dana (Steamboat), Doug and Kaylonn (Gunnison), and Dave and Melinda (Palisade). Additionally, she loved her 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren without bounds… they were the apple of her eye.
It would be impossible to calculate the number of spankings she doled out to those 4 wild boys during their magical childhood, but it is generally agreed upon that whatever the number, it was probably too few.
Nancy could see the power we all have to love one another; she wholeheartedly, genuinely, earnestly, single-mindedly, and without reservation shared herself with her family and community.
Nancy defied summary but gave of herself in the form of a friend, mother, wife, teacher, musical director, accompanist, art curator, business owner and leader, board member, patron of the arts… and so many thrived because of it. She flooded every part of life with daylight. She stood behind people as they struggled, and equally as they excelled.
She showed us how to live in the presence of ourselves, modeling caring for others before ourselves. She was the source of profound inspiration for so many.
After the death of her husband, Dan, she threw out the snow shovel and relocated to Grand Junction, Co. There she continued to grow, care, and give by adding to her circle of great friends.
Nancy actively celebrated and appreciated the good times, knowing life could serve up difficulties as well. She loved to travel and explore, and never tired of chasing wild dreams. She had deep empathy for those struggling. She could see life situations were temporary, yet pain, loneliness, and anguish were real. She began each day reciting a gratitude list. Gratitude for the simple and basic things.
Though it was a rapid decline, Nancy accepted each step down the ladder with dignity and grace. Ever curious, she wondered about all aspects of life. This trait followed her to her final moments on earth. Mom, we will miss you more than you could possibly know. Soon, we will begin to remember not that you died, but that you lived… and gave us the template for a happy, productive, meaningful life.
