If you grew up in Lakewood near Herbert and Nannie “Nan” Fenner in the 1970s or ’80s, it’s likely that you have a handmade keepsake from them — perhaps a wooden rocking horse from Herb or a crocheted baby blanket from Nan. And if you visited the Fenners during the many years they lived in the area, you never left with an empty belly. Nan made sure of that.
“You couldn’t leave their house without a care package of food,” said David Sigel, Senior Clinical Liaison for the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation. “They were extremely giving people.”
Generosity and community were in their DNA, it seemed. And though they didn’t have children of their own, the Fenner’s giving spirit continues on. In thankfulness for the care they collectively received for almost 60 years at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, they designated Baylor as the ultimate beneficiary of their estates, through their wills.
The Fenners made the decision to name Baylor as beneficiary of their entire estate in the early 1970s. Herb’s life was saved at Baylor in 1959 and from this time forward, they became closely connected to Boone Powell, Sr., administrator of the hospital, and other Baylor leaders. They were also grateful for care they received from physicians, nurses and other staff members when Herb was treated for leukemia for many years. The Fenners were so committed to Baylor that they wrote Mr. Powell in 1979 to inform him they were giving $10,000 to Herb’s sister, making sure he knew all other assets would come to Baylor.
Herb died from leukemia in 1988. Nan continued to be active at Baylor, attending Boone Powell Sr. Society events until she could no longer travel. She died at age 94.
According to the Fenner’s wishes, upon Nan’s death, their estate of approximately $1 million was used to establish the Herbert E. and Nannie Lee Fenner Endowment Fund for Hematology Research at Baylor University Medical Center.
Both Fenners worked hard, saved hard and were thrify with their finances, said David, who was also the Fenner’s godson. Herb, a CPA, spent nearly three decades with General Motors, and Nan worked for the FBI in Dallas. David’s mother also worked there, and she and Nan became lifelong friends. Nan spent 25 years at the FBI and was a participant in the Warren Commission.
Nan enjoyed good health for most of her life and had only Baylor doctors. “She outlived three internists,” David said. “They never went without but were conservative and wanted to make sure that Baylor had the proceeds. Baylor was very good to Nan and to her husband, and she wanted to make sure there was a legacy left to them.”