BAUGHER
Nancy Carol Grace Miller Baugher, of Keokuk, IA, was born June 28, 1936, in Wayne County, IA, at home on the family farm to Grace Lillian Harl Miller and Calvin Dennis Miller. Following a brief illness, Nancy passed peacefully, surrounded by family at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, IL, on August 29, 2024. She was 88.
The telling and retelling of family stories turned to lore at family gatherings, brought joy and laughter to Nancy. This may be an obituary, but stories are the poetry of life and we want to share a poem of Nancy with you.
Nancy was born during the Great Depression and during the 1936 heat wave, one of the most severe in the modern history of North America. Nancy’s maternal grandmother often said, “It was 108 in the shade, and there weren’t no shade.” Nancy was born on the birthdays of her father, Calvin, and his father, Frank.
The humorous story of her two middle names went that her mother, Grace, wanted to name her Nancy Carol for the film star Nancy Carroll; her father, Calvin, wanted to name her Nancy Grace. Grace gave the doctor the name Nancy Carol, and Calvin snuck in the Grace.
She was raised on the family farm in Appanoose County, IA, which went for years without electricity or indoor plumbing. She attended a one-room schoolhouse where her mother was the teacher when she was in eighth grade. During that year, Nancy proudly represented the county and her mother at the Iowa State Spelling Bee.
The family moved to Fairfield, IA, when Nancy was in the ninth grade. She graduated from Fairfield High School where she was active in band, choir and theater. Staying in Fairfield to further her education, she earned her teaching certification at Parsons College where she met Charles “Chuck” Baugher. With certification in hand, Nancy left for the big city of Council Bluffs, IA, where she enjoyed teaching young minds.
The stunning Nancy returned to Fairfield and married her handsome Chuck on September 16, 1956; 68 years this month. While Chuck finished his degree at Parsons, she was an office clerk at Filco leading to a great deal on the young couples first washer & dryer. The couple moved to Keokuk, the home of Chuck’s large, fun-loving family, in 1957. Later in life, she became fascinated by the Baugher genealogy and became an expert for the family.
Nancy was one of Keokuk’s first teachers in the federally funded Head Start program, created to help break the cycle of poverty. She was also a longtime substitute teacher in the Keokuk Community School District.
Despite an always busy schedule, Nancy used her time and energy in devotion to her many passions in service of others, and personal. Bridge Clubs where never even mostly about the cards, but the about the long-standing friendships with women who we hope read this and know how dear you and all the shared cheers & tears were to her.
Inspired by her mother’s sense of community and education, Nancy became active in PTA as a member and officer helping to bring sex education programs into the public schools. She also volunteered and held various positions in the Keokuk Area Hospital Auxiliary including President during the important merger of the two Keokuk hospitals.
When her children became active in sports and music, Nancy matched their love and enthusiasm with her involvement in many school booster clubs. She also matched their commitment on the courts, field and stage, with her time on hard bleachers, miles in the car, and joy in her heart.
Nancy coordinated many family camping trips which took her family from the Current River in the Missouri Ozarks, to national parks in the west, and the beaches of South Carolina, giving her Midwestern children a chance to see and play in the mountains, ocean and rivers far from home. Upon retirement, Nancy and Chuck took their dream cruise to Alaska including a train to Denali National Park and a close-up glacier helicopter flight, imprinting Nancy with vivid stories that just weeks ago she shared, eyes lit up, with family.
In 1975 Nancy started working at State Central Bank as a teller. Over the course of 25 years, she became head of the Data Processing Center and was involved in the bank’s implementation of automatic teller services. She ended her career in 2000 as Vice President of Software Technology shortly after helping the bank navigate the complex Y2K transition.
In retirement, Nancy spent many winters in Satellite Beach, FL, where she sipped her morning coffee while watching the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean, walked the beach collecting shells, created unique jewelry, explored local festivals and entertainment, and toasted the end of the day with friends.
A member of Trinity United Methodist Church since 1957, Nancy sang in the choir, was a member of United Methodist Women and participated in many of the committees.
Nancy and Chuck were longtime Iowa Hawkeyes football season ticket holders and attended several bowl games. Every year she learned the stories of her favorite Iowa athletes and supported them like she did her own children.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Calvin and Grace Miller; her son, Matthew Charles Baugher; her sister Mary Ann Miller Marley and brother-in-law Ed Marley; and sisters- and brothers-in-law: Genevieve Baugher Staggs Neff and James Neff, Chester and Katie Baugher, Carrie Baugher Wittekiend and Woodrow Wittekiend, Velma Baugher Lovell and Merle Lovell, Marjorie Baugher Sherrill and Ernie Sherrill, and Martha Baugher Kirchner and Leroy Kirchner.
In addition to her husband, Charles Baugher, she is survived by her sister Jan Miller Hickenbottom; daughter Cynthia Baugher Wine and son-in-law Steven Wine, daughter Cassandra Baugher, daughter Ellen Baugher Day and son-in-law Robert Day, and daughter-in-law Lisa Rosenboom Baugher; five grandchildren: Rebecca Baugher Wood (Micah), Jacob Baugher (Haley), James Baugher, Grace Day and Erin Day; and many nieces and nephews.
The family will meet with friends at 10 a.m., Thursday, September 5, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 2330 Plank Road, Keokuk, IA, with a service immediately following at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow in the church fellowship hall.
To make a memorial gift to Southside Boat Club or Bentley's Playground at Tolmie Park in Nancy’s honor, contact Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk at (319) 524-3377.
The Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk is assisting the family with arrangements.
