Is Nancy Oar Still Alive? Mountain Men Star’s Age, Life in 2025, and Death Rumors Explained

Nancy Oar is an American homesteader, artisan, and television personality best known for appearing with her husband Tom Oar on the History Channel’s Mountain Men. The couple demonstrates their off-grid lifestyle in Montana’s remote Yaak Valley, drawing attention for their commitment to traditional living. As of 2025, Nancy is alive and 77 years old. Due to limited public information and the appearance of unrelated obituary results in online searches, some confusion has circulated about her status. However, she continues to live quietly in the wilderness, helping sustain a way of life built around self-reliance, practical skills, and deep connection to nature.

Early Life and Meeting Tom

Nancy Oar was born on October 2, 1949 in Illinois, United States. She grew up in a rural area with her parents and two brothers. As a child, she enjoyed tagging along on fishing trips with her older brother but described herself as shy, often keeping close to her mother in social situations.

She first met Tom Oar when she was 11 and he was 16. Tom was a friend of the neighbor, and although they didn’t connect immediately, they eventually grew close as adults. They began their life together in Pecatonica, Illinois, where they lived in a small cabin before deciding to relocate to the mountains. In 1977, they set out for Montana to pursue a more independent lifestyle.

Move to Montana and Off-Grid Living

Once in Montana, the couple initially rented a small cabin in downtown Troy. Not long after, they rented a two-room trapper’s cabin in the Yaak Valley for $40 a month. They later bought the cabin and its surrounding land for $5,000.

The cabin had no electricity or indoor plumbing—just propane lights, a propane stove, and a wood stove for heat. Nancy and Tom adapted quickly, hauling water from a hand pump and heating their home with wood. These early years laid the foundation for their commitment to simple, self-sufficient living.

Work and Self-Reliance

With no steady employment options in the area, Nancy and Tom turned to traditional skills. Nancy took an active role in brain-tanning deer hides, a Native American method that preserved buckskin. They sourced deer hides locally—often from hunters discarding them—and turned them into clothing and goods.

The couple sold these handmade items at mountain man rendezvous events. Over time, Nancy helped expand the business from raw hides to fully customized garments, sewn by hand for reenactors and black powder enthusiasts.

Nancy also contributed by helping with seasonal labor, such as tree planting for the Forest Service, and managed household duties ranging from hauling water to preparing meals without modern appliances.

Building Their Homestead

Together, Nancy and Tom built two log homes in the Yaak. The work was entirely manual: they dug foundations by hand, peeled logs, crafted shingles, and used salvaged materials like old windows. They paid for the materials as money became available and often paused construction to earn income.

Nancy recalled hauling water from the backyard pump—sometimes making 13 pumps just to get the water flowing—and reflecting on how lucky she felt to even have a working well. She often emphasized the importance of finding gratitude in simple routines.

Television and Public Recognition

Nancy became a recognizable figure through Mountain Men, though she preferred to remain in the background while Tom took the lead on screen. Despite her initial discomfort with the cameras, she acknowledged the role the show played in preserving traditional skills.

Many viewers reached out to express how the couple’s way of life had inspired them. Some shared stories of children who had been motivated to spend more time outdoors and reconnect with nature after watching the show.

Life in Later Years

At 77, Nancy remains active, though she admits that daily tasks like chopping wood and walking uphill have become more challenging. Still, she values the lifestyle she and Tom built—one that emphasizes intentional living, independence, and integrity.

Nancy has advised younger generations to trust their instincts, avoid peer pressure, and stay true to what feels right. Her philosophy centers on making choices that reflect one’s core values, even when they require hard work or sacrifice.

Quick Facts – Nancy Oar

Name	Nancy Oar
Known For	Mountain Men (History Channel)
Spouse	Tom Oar
Residence	Yaak Valley, Montana
Birthplace	Illinois, United States
Birthdate	October 2, 1949
Early Life	Grew up in the countryside with parents and two brothers
First Met Tom	At age 11, Tom was 16
Moved to Montana	Summer of 1977
Profession	Homesteader, buckskin artisan, homemaker
Children	Yes (names not publicly known)
Current Age	77 (as of 2025)