Nancy Welch Howze

Nancy Welch Howze, 81, of Port St. Joe, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, January 23, 2023. Nancy was born on February 20, 1941 in New Orleans, Louisiana to the late William Buford Welch and Myra Duggan Welch. Nancy graduated in 1958 from Francis T. Nicholls High School in New Orleans. Nancy was a 59-year member of The Order of the Eastern Star, Encircler Chapter No. 191 (Metairie, LA). Nancy attended Touro Infirmary School of Nursing and Tulane University, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1961. As the wife of a United States Marine, Nancy worked in hospitals and nursing facilities in Louisiana, Maryland, Scotland, Hawaii, Oregon, North Carolina, and Florida. Nancy's nursing career spanned 42 years and she was known for her nurturing bedside manner and attention to patients' needs. She worked in cardiac care, intensive care, medical surgical care, long-term care, infection control, home health, nursing administration, and served as an in-service coordinator. While living in Port St. Joe, Nancy worked at St. Joseph Bay Care Center - where she taught the CNA Certified Nursing Assistant Course, Gulf Pines Hospital, and Marquis Home Health. Nancy was a member of First United Methodist Church of Port St. Joe, FUMC Prayer Shawl Ministry, and the United Methodist Women.

Nancy retired from nursing to take care of her grandchildren and loved her family above all else. Nancy's world was her children, Gary II and Donna, and her husband, Gary. Those who knew Nancy and Gary noted how much he adored her, always held her hand, dropped her off at the door, sent her yellow roses, and lovingly cared for Nancy after she developed Alzheimer's. "Meme" was the grandmother that played on the floor, read you stories in her lap, and loved Blaine, Sarah Beth, and Kara with all her heart.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Gary Howze; grandson, Matthew Howze; parents, Bill and Myra Welch; brother, Bill Welch II, and her godmother, Evelyn Denys.

Nancy is survived by two children, Gary Lauchlin Howze II, Donna Suzan Thompson and her husband George; one brother-in-law, Sandy Howze and his wife Edna; three grandchildren, Blaine Howze, Sarah Beth Thompson, and Kara Thompson; cousin, Tedde' Denys, and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended Marine Corps family.

Funeral services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Port St. Joe on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 4:00 P.M. The family will receive friends beginning at 3:00 P.M. A private family interment will be held at Holly Hill Cemetery in Port St. Joe, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to the First United Methodist Church of Port St. Joe Building Fund or Covenant Hospice, who lovingly cared for Nancy the past year.

Arrangements are entrusted to the caring staff of Comforter Funeral Home in Port St. Joe, FL.