Born May 25, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois, to Forrest Howard and Frances Bensley Johnson, Nancy was the youngest of 5 children. After being raised in Chicago for the first 12 years of her life, her family moved to Durango, Colorado. She graduated from Durango High School, Class of 1954, and has remained close to and cherished her friendship with all of her classmates.

At the age of 18, she was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has remained an active member serving in various callings. She attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. It was here that she met and married Richard Lee Carlile on June 13, 1958 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Together they raised 5 children.

Nancy had a deep interest in politics. She was a Congressional staffer and District Office Manager for Senator James A. McClure, Western Regional Campaign Manager for George H. W. Bush in his first Vice Presidential Campaign, and was, at the time of her death, serving as the Region VII Precinct Committeeperson. In past years, she had also been a lobbyist in the Idaho Legislature. Nana, as her grandchildren called her, loved sewing and quilting and made everything from prom dresses and dance costumes to quilts and doll clothes. In addition to attending to her family and friends, she lived a life devoted to charitable service. As a young girl in Chicago, she went with her mother to fold bandages for the Red Cross. She once said, "Secretly, I always knew that some soldier, somewhere, was wearing my bandages and it made him feel better." She continued throughout her life to help with the Piecemakers quilting organization, sewing quilts for new babies, abused mothers and children, as well as for the Christmas Tree Fantasy each year.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Lee Carlile of Idaho Falls; daughters: Kathy Gneiting of Idaho Falls; Deborah Holm of Sandy, Utah; Laura (Dave) Wilson of Juneau, Alaska; Patricia (Mike) Sloan of American Falls, Idaho; 13 grandchildren: Krystal (Mike) Dixon of Boise, Idaho; Shamae (Loren) Lyon of Pocatello, Idaho; Malory (Drew) Secrist of Rexburg, Idaho; Hailey and Gabriel Gneiting of Idaho Falls; Brett Carlile, currently serving an LDS mission in Oakland California; Alissa and Nicholas Allred of Juneau, Alaska; Kimberly Allred and Garrett Holm both of Sandy, Utah; Ashley, Cassie, and Tiffani Andersen of American Falls, Idaho; and 2 great-granddaughters; Sydney and Morgan Lyon of Pocatello, Idaho.

Other survivors include her brother, Bradley (Marianne) Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona; sister, Madeline McNeeley of Norris, Tennessee; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her only son, Richard Walter Carlile on October 5, 1985; her parents and two sisters.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 30, 2007 at the Taylorview Ward Chapel, 5255 S. 5th W., Idaho Falls. The family will meet with friends on Thursday, March 29, 2007 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First St., Idaho Falls, and for one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will be in the Taylor Cemetery.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com.

"My heart goes out to each of you, my love and appreciation for your friendship and for having had the opportunity to know you. Love Nancy."