Nancy Cherry

Nancy G. Cherry, 77, Topeka, passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2007.

She was born in Abilene on September 28, 1929, the daughter of Bob and Nina May Gemmill. She grew up in Abilene and graduated from Abilene High School in 1947. She attended Smith College in Northhampton, MA and graduated from Kansas University in 1951 with a BA in English and Drama.

She and Arthur C. Cherry, Jr. were married on June 23, 1951 at the Abilene Presbyterian Church. They lived in Cleveland, OH while he finished Medical School, then Kansas City during his internship and residency with two years out while he served in the Air Force in the Philippines. They were able to do some traveling in the Far East, which led to a lifetime interest in travel for Nancy.

They moved to Topeka in 1958. Nancy served on the Junior League Board, Historic Topeka Board, Topeka Jazz Workshop Board and Secretary of the Shawnee County Historical Society. An interest in animals led her to the World Famous Topeka Zoo, where she served on the Board, started the Docent Program, and was Editor of ZOO magazine. After 26 years at the Zoo, she left and volunteered at Cowabunga Safaris as Administrative Officer, where she edited the