Nancy Graves Talbott

1932 - 2022

Nancy Graves Talbott
January 6, 1932 - July 1, 2022
Lexington, Kentucky - Nancy Graves Talbott, 90, passed away Friday, 1 July 2022 at her home. She was born on 6 January 1932 to Lucy Johnston and Joseph Clark Graves. In addition to her parents and brother, Joseph Clark Graves, Jr., Nancy was predeceased by her many four-footed companions including a raccoon, a donkey, ponies, and many dogs, including Joli, Fifi, Tuzee, Gotcha, Miss Lovey, and finally Rasty.
Nancy graduated from University High and later Transylvania University. Thanks to astute political advice from her dear friend Mary Maloney Mangione, Nancy was elected, to her and her family's surprise, Miss Transylvania. Following her marriage, she and her family moved to Winchester. Her sense of civic duty took many forms. She worked at polling stations, served on the planning commission, and never missed voting in an election. She often took her teenage children to Police Court. When they were unavailable, she enlisted friends and a niece to accompany her to trials. She enthusiastically served on every jury to which she was called although one infamous trial haunted her ever after. Woe to the person who had served on a Grand Jury because Nancy, who regretted that she never did, would pepper them with questions. Since she often followed televised court cases and Congressional hearings, dinner table conversations always included discussions of current court cases both local and national.
Nancy worked on many political campaigns but none as ardently as she did for those of her brother. With her children in tow she, and they, stuffed envelopes and did whatever was needed. This included enlisting her young children to walk, spring and winter, outside polling stations wearing sandwich board signs in support of their uncle.
Nancy was a very skilled needlewoman. Early in her marriage, she honed her dressmaking skills to outfit her young children, provide quilts for their beds, and name tags for their clothes. When the sewing machine gave out, Nancy took up knitting. She made Christmas stockings for her relatives, sweaters for her unappreciative children, and shawls for nursing home residents. Of all her creative endeavors, Nancy's finest work can be found in the many needlepoint pillows, rugs, and wall hangings in her home, those of her family, and around the waists of the men she loved most â€" her son, her brother, and her son-in-law.
Nancy became a friend of Bill W. over 45 years ago when she realized the oversized role alcohol played in her life. After completing the Twelve Steps, she sponsored everyone who asked, took phone calls at all hours, and chauffeured others to meetings.
Not wanting to compete with the gifts of food her friends made for others, she created a flat, spicy cheese wafer. When able-bodied folks requested the wafers, she made them for charities to sell. After two steroid shots in as many years to relieve the pain caused from making the wafers, Nancy and Linda started the business, Nancy's Fancy Cheddar Snaps. Before it closed, over 15 stores in Kentucky carried Nancy's cheddar snaps and they were awarded second place at the 2010 Kentucky Proud Incredible Food Show. It should be noted that first place was awarded to the supplier of the cheese used in the cheddar snaps.
Although shy and self-effacing, Nancy loved to laugh and always welcomed a funny story. She was interested in the lives of others and sought to be helpful, often ending a conversation with: "what can I do for you?". Her ability to see others' points of view and appreciate contributing circumstances, made her slow to judge and quick to empathize. Not surprisingly, Nancy strongly believed in what is now referred to as social justice. She was an avid supporter of those she believed would address society's inequities such as Bernie Sanders, whose bumper stick remains firmly affixed to her Prius.
Nancy leaves her daughter, Linda Barnes and her husband, Nelson, her son, John Talbott and his wife, Deidre, and their three children, Dara Talbott, Chloe Talbott, and Emily Perdue and her husband, Tanner, and great grandson, Scott, along with her sister-in-law, Hart Graves, and her beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins to mourn her passing.
Her family wishes to express their sincere appreciation for the women who cared for Nancy over the past few years. This includes Johnetta Jackson, Louise Jones, Crystal Kay Nelson, and the fine caregivers at Home Instead. We are grateful for your kindness and patience.
Friends are invited to a reception and later a celebration of Nancy's life, on Friday, 22 July from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Idle Hour Country Club. A graveside service will be held at the Lexington Cemetery, Saturday 23 July at 10:00 AM. All are welcome to the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers we ask you to support one of Mother's favorite charities, Colors of Promise, which is located at 2901 Richmond Road, Ste 140-186, Lexington, KY, 40509-1771 (http://colorsofpromiselexky.org/). This local organization seeks to raise the awareness of breast cancer, specifically among women of color, who have disproportionately higher rates of the disease.
www.milwardfuneral.com