Nan King (25 July, 1921 – 29 July, 2006) died after a long illness on Saturday 29th July 2006, the feast of St Martha. Over the past 25 years, Nan had become a very dear and close friend, as well as being an important part of our Schoenstatt family life and that of many others

. There were three great loves in Nan’s life Duncan (her husband), her family and the Church.
It is impossible to place Nan in any particular niche – her life touched and influenced so many with whom she came in contact. Like Joseph Engling, she was ‘naturally’ all things to all those she met, irrespective of age - a truly unique gift and grace.
A rainy evening walking home with friends from the UCM Meeting in Christ The King Parish, and the offer of a lift from the then ‘unknown’ Sr Xavera, led to Nan establishing the first Scottish Schoenstatt Mothers’ Group. Our MTA had plans for Nan and Duncan as a couple, involving them in establishing a Family Group, leading eventually to the establishment of the Family Branch in Scotland. Nan’s and Duncan’s striving to deepen their own spirituality through our MTA also led them to support the Schoenstatt Family growth in England, attending talks by Fr Brugger in Manchester and also joining in Family Weeks in Schoenstatt, Germany.

The experience of those Family Weeks and talks on Schoenstatt’s spirituality were a great source for Nan’s and Duncan’s apostolate and for the building of Schoenstatt in Scotland. Together, they worked to support the many projects, retreats for youth and families in Ardmory, in Campsie and in Germany – Duncan in his own quiet way, Nan in her gentle but energetic way. Youth had a special affection for Nan wherever she went with Schoenstatt – in Scotland, England, Rome or Germany. She was a second mother, grandmother, friend with whom they were at ease and in whom they could confide.
When Duncan died, Nan lost more than a husband she lost her best friend, with whom she had shared her love of Schoenstatt. That love continued, and was always present whenever we had our Ardmory Group meetings. Duncan was always included in our prayers and he was an ever present part of Nan’s recollection and discussions of Schoenstatt’s spirituality.

Family weeks/weekends were a great source of Nan’s talents. With a little encouragement she would entertain us with her singing and her unique gift for ‘character acting’ e.g. ‘A Wee Cock Sparra’ and her rendition of – ‘A Dug A Dug’…. Not forgetting Alexander’s Ragtime Band, which will never be the same without Nan to ‘work’ her audience while dancing with boundless energy. There are so many memories to recall, you would need an encyclopaedia to record them all.
In recent years, Nan’s ‘apostolate’ took on a very special significance every Sunday in St Joseph’s Cabin following Devotions in the Shrine in Campsie Glen. Quietly, unassumingly, she would welcome visitors, offer them tea, engage them in conversation and, before they departed, they (and she) had made a new friend.
As a member of the Ardmory Group, she not only embraced but lived the Group’s Ideal to strive ‘To be a Living Shrine.’
Schoenstatt has ‘lost’ a very loyal and dear friend, but gained a tremendous advocate in Heaven. AMDG

Michael & Nora Hartley

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