NANCY BETH (GIFFORD) MADDOX DAILEY

Nancy Beth (Gifford) Dailey, 82, passed away peacefully in her sleep due to complications from ALS on April 10. She was born May 3, 1940 in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Mary Margaret (nee Bielenberg) and Fred Lincoln Gifford. Her life’s adventures began with multiple moves around the country due to her father’s military career.
Before she finished high school, her mother suggested she invite her pen pal to stay with them, which led her to become an exchange student, spending a year in Germany before starting college. In Germany, she attended art school and developed fluency in the German language.
Dailey graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia, June 9, 1964, with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a teaching certificate. She taught English at Chadwick, and would spend most of her career at the Ash Grove School district teaching art to all levels, working between three schools and two communities. She was beloved by her students, and was an exceptionally creative and encouraging teacher.
On May 20, 1961, Dailey married her college sweetheart, Jerry Neal Maddox, and after moving to Branson, her first daughter, Brenna, was born. After the death of her first husband, she married James Michael Dailey on Aug. 16 1971, and soon another daughter, Cara, was born.
She traveled across the United States, to Germany, the Netherlands, and took a solo trip to Suriname to do research for her books. Her artwork was exhibited in multiple countries, and she won several awards for her miniature portraits. Her hobbies were too numerous to list, and she participated in several local groups, including Sleuths’ Ink and the 24th State Relic Recovery Club. She took up zip lining for her 70th birthday, and was in excellent health until ALS appeared.
Dailey and her husband Jim owned the Autumn Apple Art Gallery in downtown Springfield. Her artwork was exhibited internationally, and she won the Levantia White Boardman Memorial Prize for best miniature in 1971 and was invited to the Grand Prix de la Cote D’Azur in Cannes which opened in January 1972.
After retiring, she wrote and published three books, several short stories, and was actively writing until the time of her death. She would love to have people read and review her books. Chasing Caterpillars, The Life and Times of Maria Sybilla Merian; Jim a.k.a. the Wonder Dog; and Knadel’s Ghost are available to order through major booksellers online or at your local library.
Nancy is survived by daughter Brenna Waddell and grandson Caelan of Springfield; daughter Cara Dailey and son-in-law Moe Seki of Itasca, Ill.; several exchange daughters, including Inge (the Netherlands), Stefanie (Spain), Miwa (Japan), Christina (Denmark), Tanja (Germany), Marissa (Mexico), Öznur (Germany), and others; as well as countless friends, students, extended family, and her beloved Boston Terrier, Cocoa.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husbands, Jerry and James.
Per Dailey’s wishes, instead of a traditional funeral, there will be a party to celebrate her life on Sunday, May 21, at the Lake Springfield Boathouse from 6:30-9:30 p.m.