Nancy Ellen Fonde Lambert

Nancy Ellen Fonde Lambert, born on May 26, 1935, passed away on October 24, 2020 in her hometown of Maryville, Tennessee. Preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Keith Fonde, sister Phyllis Fonde Hill-Roberts, nephew Rick Hill, numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law including Thelma Lambert Farmer, cousins and several Lambert family nieces and nephews. A 1953 Maryville High School graduate, Nancy went on to attend the University of Tennessee and joined Chi Omega Sorority. Married on June 11, 1955 to her sweetheart she met in the first grade, Gene Farris Lambert, she was the high school cheerleader, and he was the football captain; he was the class president, and she was the class vice president, but she remained in charge. With Gene, Nancy built a beautifully active life founded on her Christian faith and were blessed with three sons Doug, Billy, and Keith. Some of her most cherished memories were from taking her sons, daughters-in-law, and eight grandchildren yearly to Hilton Head Island. She was always alongside her grandchildren riding bike trails and building sandcastles. She sketched and painted portraits of her family well into her 80’s. If she wasn’t holding a brush, she was journaling her times with thousands of photographs, or tending to her homes’ gardens for hours on end. For almost 75 years, Nancy remained connected with her childhood best friends, known as “The Silly Seven.” In her younger years, she and Gene traveled with their close family friends, the Flickingers, Petersons, Blanks, and Laws, just to name a few. Nancy held an impressive mental book of sports knowledge, specifically golf, the Atlanta Braves, Tennessee Football and swimming. One of her greatest thrills was attending her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events over a span of 60 years. She was particularly proud of serving as the team parent representative for the 1978 SEC and NCAA Championship University of Tennessee Swim Team. Nancy’s volunteer sprit shined as someone always willing to help family or friends in need and stay devoted to the lasting relationships formed. She lived a life full of accomplishments, but her most cherished moments were the times she spent with her family complete with adventures, stories, and home cooked meals. Her earthly presence will be missed, but just as she would tell the grandkids after a long road trip, all can say Nancy is “home again, home again, jiggety-jig.”


Nancy is survived by her husband Gene Farris Lambert and sons and daughters-in-law, Doug and Denise Lambert of Maryville, Billy and Lisa Lambert of Knoxville and Keith and Kathy Lambert of Maryville; she perfected the role of Grandma to her eight grandchildren, Shay Trembley (John), Michelle Lambert, Christopher Lambert (Riley), Renee Hammett (Matthew), Matthew Lambert (Megan), Sara Hughes (Woodrow), Tina Waggoner (Thomas) and Thomas Lambert (Chrissy Hopson) and her nine great-grandchildren Grace Dunn and Owen Trembley, Caden and Isaiah Brock, Rex Wiseman, Davis, Eva and Brett Hammett and Ada Waggoner; also survived by her nieces, Sarah Hill Gray (Chris) of Marietta, Georgia, Martha Hill Dugger (Lee) of Asheville, North Carolina and her numerous Lambert family nieces and nephews; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Eddie and Nancy Lambert of Rogersville; many great-nieces and great-nephews; first cousins D. Porter Spangler of Winter Park, Florida and John E. “Jack” Spangler of Apopka, Florida; and Holger and Nanni Liedloff and Tascha and Franziska of Preetz, Germany.

Friends may call at your convenience from 8:00 AM - 3 PM on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home. The family is thankful for the comfort provided to her during her final months by Joyce Lowe, Morningview Village and Asbury Place in Maryville.

A private family service will be held with a celebration of life to be scheduled at a later date.

To help honor Nancy’s legacy, the family asks that in lieu of flowers a donation be made in her memory to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Attn: Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. Please designate the gift in memory of Nancy F. Lambert. You may also contact their Memorial team at (800) 213-6584 if you wish to place the request by phone.