On Friday, January 14, 2022 the world became a little darker as the bright light that emanated from Nathalie (Nan) Ann Dearman of Glasgow, KY was no more. Nan was born on November 7, 1943 in Windsor Locks, Connecticut to William Seymour Gray Jr. and Audrey Marie Clark Gray. She received her bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State College in 1965 and her Master’s in Education from the University of Mississippi in 1971.
On June 17, 1967 she married the love of her life Henry (Bill) Burkett Dearman. The best Christmas present of her life came on December 24, 1973 with the adoption of her son Arthur Tucker Dearman. In 2001, Nan gained the daughter she’d always wanted when Tucker married Jamie Dearman Homeister. That same year she welcomed into this world her first grandson Corbin.
A lover of travel, her husband’s career allowed her to explore new places, making friends and spreading her kindness to everyone she met. From her earliest years, Nan wanted to be to a teacher, and she fulfilled that dream. Always a kid at heart, she spent fifty years bringing fun, learning and caring for her elementary school classrooms. She spent the last 15 years of her career at Temple Hill Elementary School in Barren County.
An avid game player, be it board, card or online, she was the first to sign up to play with friends and family near and far and could often be found with a Sudoku puzzle in hand. When she wasn’t playing games, you could often find her tending to her garden or participating in church activities at St. Andrew Episcopal Church. The care she gave to her plants and flowers was nothing compared to the care, love and kindness she gave to everyone she met, and especially those she loved. Nan’s energy and enthusiasm were evident in the everyday and the special. Nan was sweet, loving and full of life.
She will be deeply missed by her husband Bill, her son Tucker of Madisonville, KY, her daughter by marriage, Jamie, Jamie’s husband TJ and grandsons Corbin and Cameron of Sellersburg, IN; her younger sister Pam Jervey and her husband Bill; her niece Ali Jervey and partner Luis Hernandez of Miami, FL; her nephew Chris, his wife Kathy and her great niece Kira and great nephew Colin of Pasadena, CA; dozens of Gray family cousins; and many friends and extended family across the globe.
Visitation hours will be held at the A.F. Crow & Son Funeral Home, 201 E. Washington St., Glasgow, KY at 1:00 P.M., Friday, January 21, followed by a memorial service at 2:00. Friends are cordially invited to join the family at afterward. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Nan’s memory and her lifelong dedication to children by donating to Covenant House (convenanthouse.org/donation-options).