Nancy Jean Pope Setzer

1936 - 2025

Nancy Jean Pope Setzer

April 23, 1936 - July 24, 2025

Nancy Jean Pope Setzer, 89, of Hickory, N.C., passed away under hospice care in her home on Thursday, July 24, 2025, surrounded by her family. Jean was known as a patient, kind, and loving humble servant in every aspect of her life.

She was born in Hickory in 1936 to Harlan "Jack" Pope and Annie Wilfong Pope. She lost her father at age seven and moved from her home on Pope Hill, with her mother, to live with her grandparents Claude and Orabelle Wilfong in downtown Hickory. She attended Brookford and Oakwood Elementary, Green Park Junior High, and Claremont Central High School where she graduated in 1954 as Valedictorian. She continued her education attending Lenoir Rhyne College to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Childhood Education. After marrying LA Setzer from Morganton in 1956, she completed her college education once again graduating as Valedictorian in 1958. She then accepted a position with the Hickory City Schools at Longview Elementary teaching first grade. She stopped teaching in 1965 to assist her husband in building his photography studio where she hand painted color onto black and white photographs. She returned to the classroom in 1978 teaching at Mountain View Elementary. In the 1991-1992 school year she was honored to be teacher of the year at Mt. View Elementary. She later retired from Blackburn Elementary in 2001.

Jean was a life long member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. She was baptized, confirmed, married and raised her family at Holy Trinity. She taught the 3-year-old Sunday School class starting at 17 and continued for 72 years. In addition she was a Steven's Ministry volunteer, Church Historian, a member of the Prayer Shawl Knit and Pray Ministry, and curated bulletin boards and seasonal displays throughout the church. For over 40 years she read the Christmas story at the Children's Christmas Eve Service.

In the community she was a docent for the Historical Association of Catawba County at the Harper and Lyerly houses in Hickory hosting tours and decorating for the holiday seasons. She was also a docent at Hart's Square for many years in the Rhodes House. She was a Hospice volunteer for a number of years and a Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry volunteer for over 15 years.

Jean shared her love of the arts with her family and friends throughout her life. She was an accomplished pianist not only playing the piano for the Children's Sunday School opening, but winning countless awards at music festivals, and playing on the radio weekly in her youth. She was a highly skilled seamstress starting at a very young age, always making her clothes for both herself and her family, anything needed in the house, and treasured stuffed monkeys and Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her house is filled with handmade curtains, bedspreads, and decorative items. Her needlework fills every room of her home all created with precision and love. In her later years she learned the German folk art of scherenschnitte, which is the art of intricate paper cutting. She created cut paper art to fill her home and gifted it to her family and friends. Her hand cut cards were cherished by those lucky enough to receive one from her. She even created handmade envelopes to gift "Granny Dollars" for holidays, birthdays, and Christmas.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; and husband of 61 years. Survivors include her sister, Beverly Chapman, and husband, Ronald, of Hickory; brother, Gil Gilleland and wife, Tracye, of Catawba; daughter, Martha Setzer Rice and her husband, Randy, of Hickory; son, David Setzer and wife, Dale, of Apex; grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Rice Cardwell and husband, Chris, of Granite Falls, Emily Rice Parrish and husband, Elliot, of Matthews, Annie Rice of Hickory, and Robert Setzer of Apex; great-grandchildren, Alex, Riley Kate, Mallory, and Hunter Cardwell of Granite Falls, and Madilyn Jean and Owen Parrish of Matthews; nephews, Chuck Chapman and wife, Kristi, of Hickory, Mark Gilleland and wife, Kim, of Marietta, Ga.; niece, Kristy Chapman Hollifield and husband, Chris, of Granite Falls; great-nieces and nephews, Cole Chapman, Sarah Hollifield, Logan and Avery Gilleland; and the many children she taught in the classroom and at church.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at 3 p.m., in the nave with a reception to follow at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at 547 6th St. NW Hickory, N.C.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made in honor of Jean Setzer to Carolina Caring (Hospice), Historical Association of Catawba County, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Organ Fund, and Hart's Square.