Colleen Vashti Lancaster

Colleen Vashti Lancaster was born August 25, 1926, in Greenville, Mississippi to Archie and Ruby Lancaster. As one of 8 children, she was highly competitive, resulting in her lifelong dedication to education and personal excellence, ultimately breaking many “glass ceilings.”

She gave birth to four sons, Jeff G. Nelken, Robert M. Nelken “Buddy”, Sam W. Nelken and George Irion Nelken.

She was preceded in death by her sons Jeff Nelken and Buddy Nelken, as well as two of her grandsons, Jeff’s children, Paul C. Nelken and Jeffrey M. Nelken.

It is difficult to pinpoint the first of her extensive accomplishments, as evidenced by her recognition as the person to have earned the most degrees by the time of her 20-year, senior class reunion. Despite the rarity of women pursuing higher education at the time, Colleen graduated from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches in 1948, earning herself a place in “Who’s Who Among Students in Universities and Colleges.” She went on to pursue a Master of Arts degree in dance at the Texas Women’s University, followed by a teaching position at Memphis State University alongside Miss Elma Roane, the then only female teacher in 1948.

Two years later, she entered the University of Indiana where she earned the Director of Physical Education degree, a Master of Science degree in Recreation and Doctor of Physical Education. She continued her illustrious career, which included serving as the Health Education Director of the YWCA in Evansville, Indiana, Professor at Northwestern in LA, where she spent thirty years from 1956-1986. She also served as Dance Chairman of the Louisiana Committee for the Division of Girls and Women’s Sports, Director of the Louisiana College Dance Symposium, as President and Secretary of the Louisiana College Conference, as Chairperson of the National Dance Association Heritage Committee, and she was inducted into the CAPA Northwestern Hall of Fame in 2016.

In 1986 she began the position of Recreation Director at Silverlake Nursing Home in Staten Island, New York where she spent the next ten years, before returning to Louisiana in 1996.

Colleen was also a revered member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and in 2016, in honor of her 90th birthday, the DAR decorated her home in their red and blue colors with a similarly themed cake to honor the occasion of the birthday of their Honorary Chapter Regent for the Natchitoches Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

She was also a lifelong member and supporter of the First Presbyterian Church.

Colleen is survived by her sons, Sam W. Nelken and his wife, Selma and George Irion Nelken, her granddaughters, Toni Lynette Nelken and her children, Amelia, Lincoln, Naomi, and Abram; Jennifer Nelken Yezak, husband Michael, and their son, Driggs Irion Yezak, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will take place on April 11th at 11am at the First Presbyterian Church. Visitation will begin at 10am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Natchitoches.