Stillwater, OK - James "Bryan" Nance passed away on January 7, 2026, at the age of 67. As per Bryan's wishes, no services will be held. Strode Funeral Home & Cremation is in charge of arrangements.

Bryan was born on March 29, 1958 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Mel and Marge Nance. He graduated from C.E. Donart High School (now Stillwater High School) in 1976, where he played football, and high jumped on the track team. He went to Eastern State College on a High Jump Scholarship and earned a degree in forestry. He then attended Oklahoma State University and got his BA in outdoor recreation. He was hired at the Federal Correctional Institution of El Reno, Oklahoma, as a guard and later as the hobby shop supervisor.

In 1985 Bryan married his longtime high school sweetheart, Ashley, and they had recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. At one point in his married life, Bryan reasoned that there was probably a safer career for a family man than working in a prison, so he earned an elementary education degree from Central State University (now UCO). The couple welcomed their son, Matthew in 1989.

The first teaching job Bryan had was his only one. He taught for 28 years at Perkins-Tryon Middle school. He absolutely loved teaching seventh grade science, and he found many ways to make it fun and interesting. In addition to classroom duties, Bryan also coached middle school basketball and golf. A very important part of his teaching career was the friendships with his teaching colleagues. He always said after retirement that the thing he missed most was seeing his teaching friends.

Bryan loved his son Matt from the bottom of his heart and was so very proud of him. They studied together when Matt was young until Bryan said that Matt was way smarter than he was. The two of them loved camping out, Chinese buffets, and garage haircuts. Together the family enjoyed many vacations to the YMCA of the Rockies outside of Estes Park, Colorado, as well as many times to a remote riverside family cabin in Arkansas.

Bryan is survived by his wife, Ashley, and their son Matt, in addition to brothers Bob (Jeanette), Bruce (Debbie), Sister's in laws, Donn Connors (John), Susan Hutchison, his mother-in-law, Judy Hutchison, and his beloved nieces and nephews.