Nancy McLane went the way of her beloved husband Adam on December 18, 2023 after a devastating fall six days earlier. In accordance with her most vociferous wishes, she had remained in her home with the help of family and caregivers over this past year.

She was born in Berkeley, California on January 12, 1944 and grew up in Walnut Creek—an independent and free thinker from the beginning.  Nancy was unapologetically Nancy—a fighter, an activist, opinionated, funny, irreverent, willful, passionate, genuine and deeply devoted to family and friends. She majored in English at Humboldt, Chico and San Francisco State but soon discovered that biology and related sciences were her true calling. Married to Adam at age 19, she found a lifelong and devoted partner for 60 years. Nancy had her struggles with maintaining mental health at times but with Adam's constant attendance and devotion, she persevered.

Lucky friends and family were treated to gourmet meals prepared lovingly by Adam and Nancy from her organic garden that was the envy of Helena.  And always a variety of wines was served, chosen from their well-stocked wine cellar to accompany the meal.

Nancy and Adam were outdoor enthusiasts, hiking and backpacking, cross-country skiing, canoeing or floating rivers around the country from the Okefenokee in Georgia to the Colorado River, the Missouri, the Smith River and many more. She was an ardent fisherwoman and developed a love for fly fishing, her favorite spots a closely guarded secret.  Her commitment to fishing ran so deep it moved Adam to poetry:

"There once was an angler named Nancy

Whose taste ran to plain streams, not fancy.

But one late Spring eve

She went to the Beave

And because of her catch did a dancy.

She never again was so haughty

When people suggested big watey.

She went with the fad

To the Gal, Jef, or Mad

And gleefully kept all she caughty."

In 1970 she was appointed Executive Secretary of the San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club. She worked tirelessly for Save Our Coast, promoting the California Coastal Initiative which passed in 1972. After moving to Palo Alto, Nancy worked for the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club until moving to the D.C. area where she worked for the World Future Society. She and Adam moved to Helena in 1976 and she began working for the Department of Natural Resources as a librarian and energy researcher. Always a champion for the environment, Nancy was strongly involved in the effort to get the Bottle Bill passed in 1980, which unfortunately it did not. Volunteer activities included being a Big Sister, working with NAMI and at Golden Triangle Mental Health Center, planting trees for Growing Friends and keeping track of their mailing list, Trout Unlimited, fighting to get the Reeders Village development overturned and donating time and energy to political candidates.

Nancy was unstinting in her devotion to her family. Electing not to have children of her own, she gave generously of her time, money and love to family, most notably to her sister Betsie Walton as well as nieces Kymberly, Emily, Jenny, Kelly and Karan, all of whom were crazy about their aunt Nancy. She was so proud of the fact that she was able to help three grandnieces pay their way through college.

Special thanks to DeAnna Dodge, her caregiver and friend for over a year, niece Kymberly Waltmunson for managing from afar so many parts of Nancy's life and for the continuing vigilance of Dr Jessica Bailey. If you wish, donations to NAMI, Prickly Pear Land Trust or Montana Environmental Information Center would be appropriate. A springtime memorial will be planned.

Simple Cremation Montana has assisted the family.