Nancy Haun Dykes

Nancy Haun Dykes, Prairie Village, Kansas died August 13, 2024.  She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.

She was born November 3, 1934, in Kingsport, Tennessee, the daughter of Paul B. and Beatrice Marsh Haun.  She graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport and from the University of Memphis.

She married Archie R. Dykes on May 29, 1953.  They shared a busy life of extensive involvement in education and business.  Early in her career, Nancy was a teacher and librarian in the Memphis, Tennessee and the Champaign, Illinois schools.

Nancy increasingly became a helpmate of her husband as he assumed increasingly important leadership roles in American higher education.  She served actively and with distinction as the First Lady of three universities, the University of Tennessee at Martin, the University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee’s Flagship University, and the University of Kansas.  Nancy was the official hostess for each of the universities, welcoming and hosting guest dignitaries visiting the campus, welcoming alumni to the campuses, and contributing to faculty activities and student campus life.  Her contributions were significantly recognized and appreciated by faculty, staff, and students.  In 1980, Nancy received the Fred Ellsworth Medallion for “unique and significant service to the University of Kansas,” becoming the first non-alumna ever to receive the award.

Nancy enjoyed involvement in business and met with considerable success in the business world.  She was president and co-owner of Mark I Travel, Topeka, Kansas, and president of The Employment Corporation, Nashville, Tennessee, which she owned.  She served on several corporate boards, including Merchants National Bank, Topeka, Kansas; Lawrence Savings Association, Lawrence, Kansas; and Kingsport Armature and Electric Company, Kingsport, Tennessee.  She also served on the Capper Foundation board, Topeka, Kansas.

Nancy was active in the Kansas and American Heart associations and served as chair of the Douglas County Heart Association.  She was a longstanding member of PEO, a member of the American Association of University Women, and a member of the National Society of CWENS, Tau Chapter.

In addition to her husband of 71 years, survivors include, John Dykes and his wife Anne of Fairway, Kansas; Thomas Dykes and his wife Pamela of Austin, Texas; six grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

A Graveside Inurnment service will be held, 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Pioneer Cemetery on the Lawrence campus of the University of Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made in Nancy’s name to Heart to Heart International, 11550 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS, 66219 or to the KU Endowment, 1891 Constant Ave., Lawrence, KS, 66047 and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.