Nancy Louise Neff, writer, journalist, lifelong Austinite, died Sunday, September 2nd, 2012, while fighting an aggressive form of leukemia. Nancy was born February 22, 1951, to parents Barbara Louise “Lou” Neff and John Earle “Jack” Neff, Jr. who predeceased her. She is also predeceased by her brother-in-law, John Kyser. She will joyously be reunited with them in heaven.

Nancy graduated from Austin High School in 1969, spent one year at Pine Manor College in Boston before graduating with a degree in journalism from the University of Texas. While at UT, she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority.

Survivors include sister Gretchen Kyser; brother John Neff and wife Keni; four nephews: Jack Kyser, Jay Neff, Brad Neff and wife Liz, Greg Neff and fiancé Julie Winn Greer; two great-nieces, Halli and Samantha Neff; and her beloved aunt Dottie Dacus. Her third great-niece, Collins Neff, is expected this week. She will be dearly missed by dogs Forrest and Tag, and cat Grasshopper.

In the mid 1970’s, Nancy began her career at the American Statesman writing feature stories about health and social issues. But her true love was covering government and politics when she worked at the Austin Citizen.

From 1980 to 2011, Nancy was a writer for the UT office of Public Affairs. She was trusted by countless presidents, deans, and faculty to portray them and their work with honesty and accuracy. She won so many CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) awards that her framed awards occupy a large portion of the wall space at the Office of Public Affairs.

She also enjoyed a long involvement with Liz Carpenter’s lectureship series, whose keynote speakers included U.S. presidents and other national figures.

Nancy was an artist who created unique art pins and decorated her house with her folk art collections. She was an independent woman who built her own cottage on a hill in Wimberley. She was a lover of animals, Broadway plays, and old movies. In 1972, at her debutante party, an unknown singer named Willie Nelson played for the guests.

A private burial will be followed by a celebration of Nancy’s life at Covenant Presbyterian Church, corner of MoPac and Northland Drive, at 2pm Wednesday, September 5th. Pallbearers will be Trey Yarbrough, Curtis Page, and Nancy’s four nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) or the charity of your choice.