Nancy Woods (Elson) McCurry

Nancy Woods Elson McCurry, 95, of Sanford, North Carolina, made her peaceful transition to heaven in the early afternoon of March 16, 2025. Born August 25, 1929, she was the eldest child of Mack Augustus and Florence Griffith Woods Elson, of Magnolia, Ohio. 

Nancy McCurry grew up in the village her great-grandfather founded in the early 1800’s. Her family has been in this country since before the Revolutionary War.

She was  homeschooled before enrolling in the Magnolia Public Schools for kindergarten and was placed in second grade instead. Her tendency toward excellence followed Nancy through her education. Nancy was the valedictorian of her class of twelve students and graduated magna cum laude at the age of 16 in 1946. She went on to attend Wittenberg College, now Wittenberg University, in Springfield, Ohio.

Nancy was a very talented musician. As a child, Nancy and her younger sister, Sue, traveled the Midwest performing duets and winning many awards. Nancy played the piano and flute and her sister played the piano and the violin. The two played duets together on the piano for family throughout the years, creating lasting memories. Nancy graduated college in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in music and music education. Playing, teaching, and directing music was central to Nancy’s life until the very end; she played for a funeral the day before she passed away.

After college Nancy lived in Rocky River, Ohio, teaching music class to students in the area. From there she decided to “Fly the Finest…Fly TWA” as a stewardess. Inspired, Nancy studied aviation and almost received her pilot’s license. Landing a plane proved too difficult, but landing John Bayliss McCurry was easy. They were married February 6, 1954 in Magnolia.

Nancy and Jack raised their family, Sarah Sue (Dennis Smith), Margaret Louise (Peggy) (Patrick Halpin), Alexander “Alec” Elson, and George Woods (Jackie), in Elyria, Ohio. Nancy was a pillar of her community; playing the organ at Rockport Methodist Church in Rocky River and Community Methodist Church in Elyria, teaching piano lessons in her home to neighborhood kids, serving as the Day Chair for the Elyria Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and managing the hospital soda shoppe. Jack and Nancy started the Abbe Pharmacy in 1963, which served the Elyria community for 30 years.

Upon retirement Nancy and Jack moved to Carolina Trace in Sanford, North Carolina in 1987. Naturally, Nancy didn’t actually retire. Life in Sanford included a career in real estate and a stint working with the Census Bureau. Always finding ways to play music, Nancy arranged and played for the Get Happy Group, a choir at Carolina Trace Country Club and Sanford Community Chorus. Her devout Christian faith found a home at the Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church in Broadway, North Carolina where she was a congregant and an employee as the organist and musical director for 35 years.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents Mack and Florence, her husband of 44 years Jack, and her son Alec. She is survived by her siblings Carolyn “Sue” Sue and Augustus “Gus”; her children Sarah Sue, Peggy Lou, and George and their spouses; her grandchildren, Nancy Lu, April, Charlie, Katie, Jackie, and Andrew; and her great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Evan, Logan, Teddy, Joey, Rosie, Robin, and Bertie.

Nancy was known for her fierce love and wit, her unending loyalty and steadfast faith. Nancy will join her dear friend Ginny McMurray, they were neighbors for 30 years. She will also see her special companion, Jack Beyer. She traveled the world, visiting the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro twice while visiting her son Alec, Morocco, and Europe, often bringing home treasures from her adventures. Nancy set a goal to play the piano until she reached the ripe old age of 95, a goal which she surpassed - naturally.

A memorial service will be held at the Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church (2300 Mt. Pisgah Church Road, Broadway, NC 27505) this Saturday, March 22, at 11am with refreshments following in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church (P.O. Box 1302, Broadway, NC 27505) in Nancy’s name. A graveside service will be held in Magnolia at a later date.

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