Nora Adelle Speer Troy's Obituary
Nora Adelle Speer Troy was born in Lima, Peru on December 26, 1940, and she passed away on April 3, 2023 in Plano, Texas. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen Troy Miklos and Robert Miklos, her daughter Claire Christine Troy, her grandsons Christopher, Alexander, and Emory Miklos, and her granddaughter Emma Jameson. Nora is also survived by her sister-in-law, Barbara Speer, and her niece and nephew, Polly Speer Rios and Andrew Speer.
Nora’s father’s family came from Oklahoma, of primarily Scottish and English heritage, and her mother’s family came from Minnesota, of Norwegian heritage. Nora's father was a pilot and entrepreneur who met her mother, a nurse, in Panama. Nora’s parents settled in Lima, Peru where they raised their family. Nora’s parents had an adventurous spirit, which influenced her gregarious and generous nature and fostered her love of travel, culture, art, and music.
Growing up in Lima, Nora attended Abraham Lincoln American School, which was co-founded by her mother in 1950. After graduating in 1957, Nora moved to Texas to attend Texas Women’s University. In 1961, Nora met Robert Dennis Troy on a double date in Dallas. After that date, Bob told friends he’d met the girl he wanted to marry. He proposed to Nora at the top of the Meadows building in Dallas, and they were married at Greenville Avenue Christian Church on June 23 of that year.
The early years of Nora’s and Bob’s marriage included visits with her family in Lima and to the family farm in the Andes, as well treks through Machu Picchu and the Amazon. While in Peru, Nora assisted Bob with research and translations for his book “Lima, Peru, Housing in an Arid Coastal Region”. In 1963, the couple moved to New York City where Nora worked as a secretary and Spanish translator while Bob completed a graduate degree in Architecture at Columbia University. In 1965, the couple moved to Lubbock, Texas so that Bob could teach architecture at Texas Tech University. Their daughters, Kathleen and Claire, were born in Lubbock, and in 1969 the family relocated to Dallas.
Throughout the next few decades, Nora and Bob raised their family while Nora ran her own Spanish translation service and worked as office administrator for Bob's architectural firm. The family enjoyed many travels, including visits to Peru, Mexico, England, and Canada, and Nora was an active member of their church and the Asociación Peruana de Dallas/Fort Worth. Relishing her friendships and the couple's diverse social and business networks, Nora enjoyed entertaining their friends and business associates in their home in the East Dallas neighborhood of Lakewood. She was a meticulous, gracious host, as well as an excellent cook and event planner.
Despite many happy days, Nora wrestled with mental illness for most of her life. Bob, Kathleen, and Claire did their best to cope with her emotions and behavior during these times and made sure she had the medication, therapy, and family support she needed to manage her illness. Unfortunately, after experiencing several health issues of his own, Bob made the decision to divorce Nora in 1996. He began a new life, confident that Kathleen and Claire would always care for their mother.
With the support of her daughters and her son-in-law, Robert Miklos, Nora lived independently for many years. She created a comfortable home for herself, made new friends, and took great pleasure in the time she spent with her daughters and grandchildren. Eventually, however, the effects of her mental illness, along with Dementia and Parkinson’s, took their toll. Regardless of these health issues, Nora's attention remained focused on the people she loved until her very last days. She died peacefully on the evening of April 3, 2023, with her daughters by her side.
Nora’s family will always cherish the memories of her kind and open heart, her generous spirit, and her beautiful smile. Through all the ups and downs of life, Nora remained steadfast in her devotion to her daughters and to her grandchildren, and she retained her love of art, music, and cultural experiences.
The family would like to thank the nurses and caregivers who provided comfort and support to Nora in her final years, especially Ruth and Alicia.
The family will hold a private memorial service on a future date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Visiting Nurse Association VNA or Mental Health America MHA.
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