In Memory of “Grandma Nancy”

I’m sad to report that Grandma Nancy passed away over the weekend. 92 year old Nancy Bailey had been a fixture at the Tuesday night races and a steadfast supporter of CYF/Sendtown for over 16 years.  During those years, she baked countless pans of brownies for the Dirt Pile races, right up until last Tuesday and dozens of loaves of banana bread for the High School League races.

Her presence at Tuesday night registration will be greatly missed.

Nancy Bailey passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, May 30, surrounded by the love and gratitude of the many lives she touched.

Born in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 1934, Nancy was a proud lifelong member of the Fort Collins community. She graduated from Fort Collins High School and later from Colorado State University, carrying with her a spirit of kindness, perseverance, and service that would define her life.

Throughout her life, Nancy had a special passion for helping children. She believed in encouraging young people, supporting their growth, and making them feel cared for and valued. Whether through her work, her volunteer efforts, or the many personal relationships she nurtured over the years, Nancy found joy in helping children succeed and flourish. It was a calling that remained close to her heart throughout her life.

In 2002, Nancy survived a serious cardiac episode that nearly claimed her life. Determined to embrace a healthier future, she became a personal training client of Andy Clark’s and successfully lost 150 pounds. Around that same time, a special friendship began that would grow into something much deeper. When Andy’s daughter Harper was born in 2004, Nancy became a beloved part of their family, earning the cherished title of “Grandma Nancy.” Her love, encouragement, and help empowered Andy as a single parent raising Harper. 

Nancy’s passion for helping children found a natural home in the cycling community she came to love. In 2010, when the Colorado high school mountain bike league was just getting started, she asked a simple question: “Can I bake anything for the races?” The answer was an enthusiastic yes. Nancy baked two loaves of banana bread for every race that first season. What began as a small act of kindness became a remarkable tradition that lasted 16 years. Year after year, race after race, she showed up through her baking, sometimes making as many as five loaves of banana bread for a single event.

For Nancy, those loaves of banana bread were never really about the bread. They were about supporting young athletes, encouraging teenagers, and helping create a welcoming community where kids could challenge themselves, build confidence, and form lifelong friendships. She delighted in seeing young people pursue their goals and was proud to play even a small role in their journeys.

Her greatest contribution expanded far beyond those early races. She became known for her brownies at weekday races, Tuesday night events at Lory State Park, the original City Streets Crits, and the Tuesday night races at New Belgium. For more than a decade , Nancy was a familiar and beloved presence, where athletes, volunteers, and spectators alike looked forward not only to her baked goods but to her warm smile and genuine interest in everyone she met.

Nancy understood something important: community is built through simple acts of generosity, repeated over time. Through countless loaves of banana bread, pans of brownies, and words of encouragement, she nourished far more than hungry racers; she nourished friendships, traditions, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Dan Bailey, who passed away in September 2023. She is survived by her three children, Michael Bailey, Kathy Genest, and Brenda Tierney, along with many friends and extended family members whose lives were enriched by her kindness.

Nancy’s legacy is one of service, compassion, and unwavering generosity. She made people feel welcome, cared for, and valued. Whether she was supporting children, cheering on young athletes, helping a friend, or sharing brownies, she gave of herself freely and joyfully.

She will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and forever appreciated by the family, friends, and community she loved so well. Her life was a reminder that the smallest acts of kindness often leave the greatest and most lasting impact. Her love for children, her devotion to community, and her generous spirit will continue to inspire all who knew her.