Nancy Suzanne Buy

Nancy Suzanne (Pattison) Buy was born on Saturday, April 22, 1961. The next day, the local priest announced at Sunday mass that a new soprano had been born. Over the next five decades, Nancy shared her angelic voice with her church and community. She also touched many lives through her teaching. Nancy passed away on March 29, 2013 less than a month before her 52nd birthday and after a two-year battle with cancer. Nancy is survived by her husband of 18 years, Andrew Buy, and the lights of her life, her children Andrew (Drew) Buy and Ryan Buy. While Nancy loved singing and teaching, being a mother was her greatest joy. Nancy is also survived by her father, Joseph Pattison; her sisters, Gina, Sheila, and Corrie Pattison; her sisters- and brothers-in-law, Cathy Buy, Janice and Rick Buy, and Matt Zengler; and many dear nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and co-workers. She was preceded in death by her mother, Marie Dycus Pattison, and her grandparents, Evelyn and Jim Pattison and Agnes and Charley Dycus. The oldest of Joseph and Marie Pattison's four daughters, Nancy grew up in Pattison, Texas. Young Nancy enjoyed her family's trips to Surfside Beach and special times with cousins and lifelong friends. As a child, she learned guitar and piano and charmed local audiences as a member of a musical group, The Pattison Kids. As a teenager, she sang and played guitar for masses at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and performed with the Brookshire-Pattison community's Christmas Cantata. Nancy attended Royal ISD schools for 13 years. While at Royal she was actively involved in many music and academic extra-curricular activities. Her classmates remember her as a beautiful and talented friend with a kind heart. She graduated with honors from Royal High School in 1979. Nancy continued her education at University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. There she studied under many talented musicians, including noted Houston vocalist, Diane Tobola. Nancy performed with UST's University Singers and Liturgical Singers and was a soloist for many of the groups' productions and liturgies. She also served in UST's Campus Ministry, Mu Phi Epsilon music fraternity, and other campus activities. Nancy graduated from UST with a B.A. in Music Education in 1983. After graduating from UST, Nancy embarked on a teaching career that spanned almost 30 years. Nancy was a gifted teacher known for incorporating innovative educational techniques into her classroom. In addition to gearing many children for future success, she skillfully mentored new teachers. She counted coworkers among her closest friends. Nancy taught music at Fleming Elementary in Freeport, Texas, where she was recognized as her school's Teacher of The Year. In the early 1990s, Nancy returned to her hometown to teach first grade at Royal Primary School and then Royal Elementary School. In 1994, she met her husband Andrew Buy after he heard her sing at a Brookwood event. They married later that year. In 1998 and 2001, they welcomed their bundles of joy, Drew and Ryan. Nancy shared her love of music, learning, and theatre with her family. She also enjoyed planning wonderful holiday meals for her family and friends. Nancy continued the music ministry that she began in her youth. While in college, Nancy worked as director of music for St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church in Katy, Texas. She also served as a music minister for her church in Freeport, St. Mary: Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Her hometown return in the early 1990s also brought her back to music ministry at Sacred Heart. Her fellow parishioners loved Nancy and found that her beautiful spiritual singing brought them closer to God. Many believe that Nancy is now singing with the angels.