So began his life as an only child of foster parents with his six siblings living less than 15 miles away. Nat cherished his relationship with his siblings his entire life, often visiting them in Louisiana and elsewhere.

Graduating from Mangham High School in 1952 opened the door for his next life adventure. Nat and his best high school friend decided to hitch hike to West Texas/Eastern New Mexico to work in the oil fields. The lure of good wages and a girlfriend who had lived in the Mangham area but who had moved with her parents to the West Texas area, prompted an eventful hitchhike to begin a new chapter. After landing a job as a rough neck on a drilling rig, he met up and married his girlfriend and from this marriage his only biological child, Patricia, was born.

Settling in Hobbs, New Mexico, during his oil field days brought stability to his life. Unfortunately, his first marriage ended, and Nat married Faye Dees, whose first husband died in a drilling rig accident. Faye had three children, Linda Faye, Danny Joe, and Robert Larry, all of whom Nat helped raise.

Near the end of the 1950s, the Broadways decided to move to Northwest Arkansas, settling in Bentonville. Nat began work as a gas station attendant while seeking other jobs. Always striking up friendly conversations, Nat met people who would later lead to two jobs, one delivering empty bulk tanks to firms who sold them, and the other to Kraft Foods. Kraft had a cheese manufacturing plant in Bentonville at that time. That site is now home to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Nat first worked in the cheese plant, but was promoted to dairy farm specialist, a role in which he would install and maintain bulk milk tanks, as well as working directly communicating with the dairy farmers about the quality of their milk, in addition to advising best dairy farm practices. Learning refrigeration would later come in handy for his career. In all, Nat worked for Kraft Foods for 13 years.

His next life change came when he and his second wife divorced just after her youngest child graduated from high school. Nat had met Nancy Cowan when she worked at Kraft Foods, and they were married October 2, 1976. They bought a home in southeast Bentonville where they lived until the lure of West Texas once again sprang up. But the move this time in June 1979 was not via hitch hiking, but by moving van.

Capitalizing on his refrigeration background, Nat landed a job with Granville Graves who ran a heating, air conditioning, and plumbing business in Stanton, the place the Broadways would call home for the rest of his life. After a few years working with Granville, Nat joined the Stanton Independent School District doing maintenance, heating, air conditioning, and plumbing work, a role he held for five years. Following this, he returned to work for Granville until he retired.

Retirement did not last long as Nat became involved with the Martin County Emergency Medical Service as a volunteer. He earned his emergency medical technician’s license and began making ambulance runs. His personality of putting people at ease through his jokes and story telling worked well in this role as he was able to help calm patients going through medical trauma. His ability was rewarded as he became an EMT trainer and even drove the ambulance on many occasions. This career of community service ran until Nat was near 80.

Still, retirement was not in the cards as there was an opening in Martin County for the emergency management coordinator, a role he managed for more than two years.

Throughout his working years, Nat enjoyed traveling, particularly taking friends and family who came to see them to the various sights in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. He loved playing the tour guide and always had a story to share about an area or an experience.

Nat was a member of the First Baptist Church of Stanton and served as a Sunday School teacher for many years.

He was preceded in death by his biological and foster parents, his siblings, George (Pete) Broadway, Annette Gordy, Marion Robert (Bob) Broadway, and Lou Edna Broadway, his daughter, Patricia, and his stepson, Danny Joe.

He is survived by his widow, Nancy, of the home; sister, Ola Clark; sister, Dorothy Kay Taylor; and sister-in-law, Janet Cowan; brother-in-law, David Cowan; brother-in-law, Don Cowan; and many extended family members.

Visitation was Friday, May 30 at Gilbreath Funeral Home at 209 North Saint Charles in Stanton, at the corner of Saint Charles and Broadway. Funeral Service was Friday, May 30 at First Baptist Church of Stanton, 200 West Broadway Street, with the Reverend David Harp officiating.

A private graveside service immediately followed the church services. n lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice in remembrance of Nat.

Arrangements are under the direction of Gilbreath Funeral Home of Stanton. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch. com