Nancy M. Ralston, who resided in Charleston, Arkansas, died Sunday, January 10, 2021, at her home. She was born May 7, 1932, in Escanaba, Michigan, to the late James Quinn and Dorothy Casey Quinn Reimer. She was 88 years old. She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, William Robert (Bob) Ralston; a son, Larry Ralston; a brother-in-law, Dale Ralston; and a step-brother, Bill Reimer.

Nancy was a retired medical transcriptionist. She was the church pianist and organist for many years and member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Charleston. Her father died when she was two years old. In 1943, she moved with her widowed mother, brother, and maternal grandparents to Dallas. Several years later, her mother married George Reimer at which time she gained a step-brother, Bill. She graduated from St. Edward's Academy for Girls in 1950 and married her husband Bob in 1951. They moved to the west Texas oilfields where their son Larry was born in Lubbock. Shortly thereafter, they moved back to Dallas, and Bob began night classes at SMU University and Nancy again began her volunteer work as an organist at St. Phillips Church. In 1960, their daughter Amy was born. In or about 1963, Bob and Nancy purchased 100 acres in Vesta and decided to embrace the farm life, although they had both been raised in large cities in Texas. Soon thereafter, Bob's parents, Norma and Dale Ralston, moved from Dallas to the farm at Vesta, and it was some of the happiest and also challenging years of their lives.  Learning to raise cattle, growing a garden, and sewing all the family's clothes while working full time, Nancy raised to every occasion no matter how challenging, especially since Bob traveled for a living. She loved her community and never hesitated to volunteer where and when needed. In the ensuing years, she served on the Franklin County Election Commission representing the Republican Party and taught one of the religion classes at Sacred Heart. Throughout these years, she played and sang at many funerals and weddings. She once remarked that music was as important to her as the blood running through her veins. Her business career consisted of working in law offices in Dallas and Fort Smith, a few years as editor of the Charleston Express, and as a self-employed medical transcriptionist. Nancy enjoyed playing in a bridge club that began 40 years ago. Many of her bridge buddies have since passed.

Rosary service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 13th, at Brotherton Funeral Home Chapel in Charleston, with Deacon Mark Verkamp officiating.

Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 14th, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Charleston, with Fr. Norman McFall and Deacon Mark Verkamp officiating. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Charleston, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home and Flower Shop in Charleston.

She is survived by her daughter, Amy Ralston of Charleston; a brother, James Quinn of Jourdanton, Texas; and one grandchild, Roberta Johnson of Spenser, Indiana.

Pallbearers are Jim Frederick, David Bender, Mike Ramsey, Drew Martin, David Ralston, and Brian Blackstock.

Honorary pallbearers are Herman Verkamp, Jim Raible, and the Ladies Bridge Club.

To place an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.