[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15435]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING NANCY ANN McCALLISTER

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 
to honor the life of New Mexico resident Nancy Ann McCallister, who 
passed away on August 16, 2014.
  Nancy was a lifelong resident of New Mexico, with family ties to some 
of New Mexico's oldest families. She was a descendant of Don Juan Vigil 
y Montes de Santa Anna, and Michel des Marais, who would later become 
one of the founders of the city of Las Vegas in 1835. To this day 
Nancy's family continues to live in New Mexico, preserving the rich 
cultural heritage of their ancestors.
  For Nancy, there was nothing more important than her loving family, 
friends and helping those in need. Her love extended far beyond her 
eight children to her eighteen grandchildren and twelve great-
grandchildren. She was a loving mother and nurturing caretaker.
  Nancy loved gatherings with family and friends, and like a true New 
Mexican, enchiladas were mandatory. As her kids will tell you, she 
loved to entertain dozens of people and nothing brought her more 
delight and pleasure than making them smile. She would often tell her 
favorite story about training a young William G. ``Bing'' Grady when 
she worked at Albuquerque National Bank in the 1950s. Mr. Grady would 
go on to become president of the bank.
  Nancy was a great listener and many people came to her for advice and 
wisdom. She was inclusive and never judgmental. Whether it was raising 
her kids or helping individuals overcome the burden of alcoholism, she 
always embraced the opportunity to help someone by teaching them with 
words of wisdom, a helping hand and a guiding heart. This kind-
heartedness and understanding made Nancy an exceptional person, 
cherished by her family and respected as a role model for all her kids.
  A lifelong New Mexican with deep family roots in our state, Nancy 
represents the best of our state. The qualities she exemplified--love, 
compassion and empathy--are the qualities New Mexico strives toward 
each and every day. Our state is richer and fuller because Nancy taught 
us to love more, not less; to be selfless, not selfish, and to always 
remember that it is the people around us who make life worth living.

                          ____________________