Nancy Druell Smith.
Nov. 12, 1937 – Feb. 9, 2025
In the care of Chapel of the Roses & Chapel of the Roses Cemetery
– Nancy Druell Smith went home to be with the Lord on Feb. 9, 2025. She was born to George T. and Bessie Irene Davis on Nov. 11, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri. Nancy married the love of her life, O.W. Smith, on June 28, 1969. They met at the Outrigger Restaurant in San Luis Obispo and were married shortly afterwards. They loved the Central Coast and their home “Gopher Hill”. They rarely spent any time away from these locations or each other. They were a match truly made in heaven. The only thing Nancy loved more was her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Nancy worked for Ozark Airlines in Missouri and Columbia Records in Santa Maria, CA. When she and O.W. purchased their dream land in Atascadero, Nancy put all of her time into making their home a haven. She would always say it was a labor of love.
Nancy was an incredible seamstress. She could sew just about any type of clothing without patterns. She was also an avid antique collector and loved to go “antiquing” even if it was only to window shop. Nancy, as well, had a fondness for painting. She and O.W. learned painting together, and they spent a few years taking trips over to Morro Bay for the sole purpose of capturing the coastal beauty in oil paintings.
Nancy loved spending time gardening, and cherished the beautiful mornings and evenings where she could sit outside enjoying the beauty with a cup of coffee. Birds were also a love of hers. She had many indoor finches and parakeets over the years, and she raised doves in an outdoor aviary for over 30 years. Nancy’s greatest love of animals though was her love of her many precious dogs throughout the years. Her last little love, Kimmy, was there by Nancy’s side until the end.
Nancy often expressed her enjoyment of accompanying her husband to minister to those in nursing homes as they shared the love and hope of Jesus through music and scripture. Nancy would often say she found her joy and strength in scripture and prayer. She expressed how she could see the reality of God when she looked at the intricate beauty of His creation all around her. Nancy and O.W. enjoyed that beauty for many years as they would go for their weekly walk and “fish dinner” in Morro Bay.
Nancy has now joined her love, O.W., who preceded her in death just 9 days before. She will be dearly missed by her “adopted” children Dennis and Cynthia Richards; “adopted” grandchildren and great-grandchild Wesley (Jessica) Richards, Eden Richards, and Tate; her faithful canine companion, Kimmy; siblings Thomas Davis and Susan Davis; nieces and nephews; and cherished loving friends, Pat and Lenora Shealy.
She is preceded in death by her parents, George T. Davis and Bessie Irene Davis, her brother Robert David Davis, her “sweet” Uncle Jack Dohert,y and her ‘beloved’ Aunt Ruth Doherty in whom she had a “kindred” spirit.
The family would like to offer their heartfelt appreciation for the loving, compassionate care Nancy received from the Central Coast Home Health and Hospice staff, and the end-of-life caregivers Laura, Zhanna, Brenda, and loving friend, Lenora.
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