Nancy Gale VanderMolen, age 85, peacefully passed away at home in Bella Vista, AR on January 25, 2025, nearly a year after suffering a stroke.  She was cared for and is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, James Matthew VanderMolen originally of Grand Haven, Michigan, son of Mony and Harta VanderMolen.  Nancy was the youngest of two daughters born to Tulsa firefighter, D.W. "Charlie" Chambers and Dovie V. Peters Chambers, of the Skiatook area, who were ranchers prior to the lake development when they were bought out by the GRDA.  They then moved to Washington County outside Bartlesville where they had been land developers in earlier years. She's survived by her older sister, BarBara M. Davis, of Tulsa, OK who was married to Charles Wm. Davis until his death, and who like Nancy and Jim raised three children in Tulsa.

The two sisters grew up in Tulsa and Nancy had fond memories of visiting their daddy at the firehouse, sliding down the firehouse pole, and proudly having the firetruck visit her school.  She also recalled an exciting day when the local parade passed by their house on Route 66 to celebrate the end of World War II.  Nancy graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1957.  She was actively involved in her church and in Youth for Christ.  With her best friend, Nancy Hull Tholen, she attended the first youth camp meetings of New Life Ranch near Siloam Springs, AR, when it was envisioned and started by Nancy's parents, Tom and Mary Hull, and friends, Rev. Willard and Ruth Heck.  Three generations of VanderMolens have so far attended NLR.

She met her lifelong sweetheart before her senior year when she worked at a summer youth camp at Lake Wynona in Indiana.  Jim had come from Michigan to work that summer between semesters of Bible college.  Once they met, they were inseparable.  The camp did a photo shoot to promote the camp because they made such a cute couple.  They got to meet Pastor Billy Graham when he came in for lunch where they were working.  Jim would have to sneak back into the boys dorm because he'd stay out late with Nancy.  He never went back to Michigan.  Instead he came back to Tulsa with her and they got married a week after Nancy graduated.  They had two little girls, and Jim worked 2-3 jobs working his way up at Southwestern Bell.  Nancy took care of the home and family, worked at Southwestern Bell and Blue Cross/Blue Shield then later attended The University of Tulsa.  She started college when her youngest daughter started kindergarten.  For years, the typewriter would tap long into the night hours.  It took her eight years, but she graduated in 1972.  It was a proud moment for the family when she walked the stage to receive her diploma at the TU graduation downtown.

She specialized in early childhood development and elementary education and was passionate about teaching in underserved areas.  She was a perfectionist and strove for excellence.  She taught her daughters an appreciation of the arts, and gave them lessons in music theory, piano, violin, tennis, swimming, even baton and sewing lessons, drove them to Brownies, Girl Scouts, church choir, bell choir, all kinds of sports practices and games, enrolled them in camps, was attentive to their education, and taught them to cherish and love their pets.  She loved cats, dogs and horses and there were many furry family members.  The family was at the church every time the doors were open.  In fact she had a key to the church!  For a short time, they even gave farm living a try, but it was too much driving to town.  She was devoted to service and to academic excellence and enrolled the girls in Holland Hall at an early age.  A baby boy was born who brought new joy to the family.  She loved to share about Jesus.   She believed in Jesus' love and accepted him in Sunday School when she was four years old.  She taught their children and grandchildren about the Bible.  She wrote encouraging verses on notecards for family.  She talked about Jesus everywhere she went.  Jim and Nancy sent the kids and grandkids to church camps.  They hosted the Korean Orphan Children's Choir when it came to Tulsa.  They put together care packages for World Vision during the Vietnam War.  They supported their missionary friends, Doug and Sue Deming, in Peru.  They sang in church choir and played church softball.  She gave her all to children's ministry and VBS with dear friend Erma Lee.  She worked with nursery age to college age kids. She loved to play games, and organized scavenger hunts, birthday and slumber parties, and youth activities like bowling and skating, and hosted get-togethers at the house . She loved to socialize which always involved a lot of laughter, and spent hours on long phone calls with friends and family, resulting in a very stretched out phone cord.

Her parents and sister's family moved to the Bartlesville area, so Nancy and Jim followed and lived most of their lives there afterwards.  The family vacationed every summer to visit Jim's family in Michigan, took the RV camping and vacationed in Bella Vista where they later built a house.  They also got a lake house and boat at Grand Lake where a lot of fun memories were made.  Wherever they were, there were root beer floats, popcorn, laughter and fun playing hearts, dominoes, and all kinds of games, watching old movies, fishing, boating and just hanging out.  When she retired from the school system and Jim retired from SW Bell, they had more time to spend with their grandchildren who are now grown.  Nancy is survived by her husband, Jim; youngest daughter and namesake, Dr. Nancy Lynn VanderMolen, of Tulsa, OK, and son, Mark VanderMolen of Bella Vista, AR.  Her oldest daughter, Jamie Lynn Watson, preceded her 14 years ago, but now they are joyously reunited.  Nancy is also survived by by eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren:  Jamie's four children, Dr. Lyndsay Morgan of Chugiak, AK; Thomas and wife Dr. Julie Watson and their children, Louisa, Nathaniel and Jonathan, of Amarillo, TX; Andrew James Watson of Dallas, TX; Dr. Amanda and husband Garrett Gibson and their one-year old son, Theodore Gibson, of Tulsa, OK; and Mark's four children, Andrew and wife Jess Gregory, and newborn Max; Kaerina Gregory and daughters, Ryan Anne and Charlie Mae; Veronica VanderMolen; and youngest grandson, Luke VanderMolen, all of the Bentonville area.

A service celebrating and honoring Nancy's life will be held at New Life Christian Church, 103 Riordan Road, Bella Vista, AR, on Friday, February 14, 2025, at 1PM.  Flowers will be accepted at the church rather than the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name, Nancy Chambers VanderMolen, to the youth camp she loved so much, New Life Ranch, 160 New Life Ranch Drive, Colcord, OK 74338.

Cremation was arranged per her wishes.  Graveside service in Tulsa may be held at a future date.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.