Nancy Louise Crosby

Nancy Louise Crosby - a woman of remarkable courage and strength, a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend – died peacefully at her home on April 8, 2026, surrounded by her children and her family. She was born August 14, 1941, in Terre Haute, Indiana and lived much of her life in the Hoosier State, with brief adventures living in Jupiter, Florida and Seattle, Washington. She leaves behind four treasured children, Paul (Clara), Jeff (Cindy), Darren (Nicole), and Jodie (Barry), 14 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her beloved siblings, sisters Maryella Fox and Janice Oglesby, and brother, Jerry Reese, as well as an extraordinary community of friends from coast to coast and around the world.

Nancy’s friends and family called her many things: Gigi, Blue Grandma, M’Queen, Nono, Grancy, Deputy Dog, Shorty, Go-Go Grandma, Pretend Mama, and Louise (to her best friend’s Thelma), among others. Her nicknames demonstrated the unique connection she had with every person who crossed her path. Her enormous heart was open to all, and she counted as her friends the most diverse tapestry of individuals imaginable.

She established many beautiful traditions, the most prominent being the four decades of autumn apple orchard weekends which gave rise to perhaps her most prized title: “Apple Grandma.” During those weekends she and her grandchildren picked apples, baked pies, watched movies, and laughed until their tummies hurt. For many years, the children would return to find that the “Orchard Bunny” had brought gifts while they were away picking apples.

Nancy was known for her spectacular sense of style. Though she proudly shopped almost exclusively at garage sales and thrift stores, no one could put together a more stunning ensemble or a more beautiful room on a miniscule budget. These treasure hunts brought her great joy and earned her yet one more nickname, Fancy Nancy.

Her culinary masterpiece was sausage gravy and biscuits. She was a card shark, with skills honed over thousands of hours at the card table. She was well-traveled, including visits to Italy, Germany, and England. At age 78 she spent two weeks in China, even climbing a small portion of the Great Wall. She was incredibly funny and quick-witted. Her silliness was legendary and nothing tickled her more than to make those around her laugh. She knew laughter was very good medicine.

Although Nancy’s schooling did not follow a traditional path, she had a brilliant mind and placed enormous value on education. She finished high school at 28, earned a bachelor’s degree at 61, and spent most of her career empowering others to reach their educational goals. She retired at age 73 as Director of Admissions for Marian University’s Adult Programs. She profoundly touched the lives of countless non-traditional students, who sensed she understood their fears because she had walked in their shoes.

She was a fierce correspondent and made time to reach out not only to those she knew and loved but also to strangers who needed a bit of encouragement. She was famous for the beautiful handmade cards she spent hours upon hours crafting. Until the very end of her life, she kept up phone, text, and written communications with dozens of friends and family, always filled with love, grace, and emojis.

At the age of 47, Nancy was given a terminal cancer diagnosis. But cancer was no match for her, and she dedicated the rest of her days to living out her faith through the example of her abundant life. Christ United Methodist Church became her church home after she moved to Greenwood, and service to that congregation was an outgrowth of her faith: helping with the food pantry, assisting with communion and weekly offerings, and offering hospitality to visitors. While CUMC always remained a church home, she found another beautiful community of faith on the northside at Spirit of Joy Church and was forever changed by the friendships she developed there.

Several years ago, at the request of her children, Nancy filled a journal with some reflections on her life. In the concluding pages of that journal, she shared the foundational wisdom that defined who she was:

• Success is not measured by your earthly possessions.
• Remember that love is given, respect is earned.
• When it comes to character and goodness, may we never demand more from others than we do from ourselves.
• For the most part, we are as happy as we choose to be (Helen Keller).

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, we read the following words:

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”

We grieve Nancy’s passing, but we do so with the hope of the resurrection, and with thanks to God for a life well lived, and well loved.

Services will be held Saturday, April 18, at Christ United Methodist Church, 8540 US 31 S., Indianapolis, Indiana, starting at 3pm with a celebration dinner immediately following at the same location. Please join and bring stories to share over dinner.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Christ United Methodist Church and earmarked to either the food pantry (Andrew’s Harvest) or children’s grief ministry (Brooke’s Place).