Nancy Florene Ayres, 70, of Gatesville, passed away at a local nursing facility on January 30, 2013.

A memorial service was held Friday, February 1, 2013, at Grace Assembly Church in Gatesville, TX.

Nancy was born March 12, 1942, in Italy, TX, to the late Cecil and RenaBell Chambers. She married Ted Ayres in 1964 and they moved around Texas, but raised their five children in Lampasas and Gatesville. Nancy was a waitress at Jean’s Café in Lampasas and a longtime employee at Grant’s Diner. She then retired to care for and help raise all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed crafting, watching her soap operas, cooking and spending her time with all the children. Nancy was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend. She left a positive impact in all who surrounded her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers Cecil “Sonny” Chambers Jr. and Alton Wayne Chambers Sr.

She is survived by three daughters, Deb Blanchard, Melinda Safford and husband, Shawn, and Tammy Simmerman and husband, Robert; two sons, Jessie Ayres and wife, Kara, and Jeffery Ayres and wife, Katreena; three grandchildren she helped raise, Krystal Ayres, Rodney Baughan and Nikita Shelley; nine other grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; two brothers, John Chambers Sr. and wife, Gayle, and Hubert Chambers and wife, Hugh Lane; and one sister, Rena Faye Tapp.