Lucy Willey

1927 - 2014

Lucy Nance Willey
October 13, 1927-February 22, 2014
Shallotte
Lucy Nance Willey, resident of Arbor Landing at Ocean Isle, passed away Saturday, February 22, 2014. She had suffered from chronic pulmonary disease and heart problems. Lucy Yates Nance was born October 13, 1927, the seventh and last child of Paul and Hattie Nance of Bonlee, North Carolina. She met and married her husband, Morris Lee Willey, in 1946 while working for the U.S. military in Greensboro, moving to Maryland and eventually raising three children. She worked in the medical office of Dr. Hirsch of Havre de Grace for many years until her retirement and return to North Carolina. Unabashedly outgoing, Lucy had the Southern gift of gab and enjoyed travel, church, and most any social event. She attended First Baptist Church of Shallotte. As an avid seamstress, she made many lovely dresses over the years for her grand-daughters and great-grand-daughters. Although she mostly left the driving to others, she had uncanny navigation skills from extensive studying of maps. No matter what state you might be driving in, she seemed to know the best route to get there. To her great dismay, Lucy was preceded in death by two of her children: JoAnn Mayfield (2002) and Morris Henry Willey (2008); and a grandchild, Tara Willey (2012). Lucy is survived by her husband "Willey," an inseparable companion for 68 years. She also leaves behind her loving daughter, Paula Buis, and son-in-law William Werner of Sunset Beach; daughter-in-law Vicki Willey of Frostburg, Maryland; and a gaggle of grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Dene Maloney and her daughters Lauren and Kate of Minneapolis; Samuel Mayfield III and his children Kasey, Corey, and Jack of Winston-Salem; Melissa and Rick Michaux along with daughters Emma and Clara in Salem, Oregon; Lindsay Willey, Madison Willey, and Blair Willey of Maryland. Memorial Services will be held at Arbor Landing at Ocean Isle on Saturday, March 1 at 3pm.