Millie Francis Nourse

Millie Francis Nourse
1951-2025
Millie Francis Nourse, 74, of Mechanicsville, Maryland passed away on December 4th, 2025.
Originally Millie Francis Knapp, Millie was born after World War II, in 1951, in Annapolis, Maryland, during the height of the Cold War. Her parents, Earnest Oscar Knapp and Margarette Crow, had longed for children for many years and she was their only one. She grew up with stories of World War II and the Great Depression, and it shaped who she was as a person. Her parents were hardworking, frugal, and dependable and she learned these character traits from them. She was a devoted daughter. She grew up in Severn, Maryland.
She graduated from University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, and tried being an elementary school teacher, like many women of her time. But it didn't fit- she wasn't naturally extraverted and didn't like being in the spotlight, so she studied accounting, to be a Certified Public Accountant or CPA. She was one of two women in a class of 50 and she passed the CPA exam on the very first try.
Millie married Paul Steven Nourse and loved him until the day she died. She met him while she was working at IBM as a clerk in accounts payable. She loved him, his enthusiasm and excitement. And he loved her. She was someone dependable, hardworking and smart. And she was very beautiful, although she never really seemed to know that. After dating for a few years, they decided to marry.
In 1979, they choose to create a family together. They moved back to her childhood home in Severn, Maryland. God gave him three daughters- Elizabeth, Sarah, and Charlotte. They moved again, and again, and again, finally ending up in St. Mary's County, Maryland in 1987 and through the years, in their little home in St. Mary's County on 21 acres, where they raised their family.
After many years as a CPA, she ended her career with the United States Navy, as a budget analyst. Her incredibly high level of responsibility and her kindness made her respected by everyone that worked with her and she did her job well.
She was an amazing person in the community, adopting animals and volunteering for over 15 years at a local nursing home, with Pets-On-Wheels. This volunteer work she did, every Thursday, was the single happiest event of the week for many of the people she visited. What a blessing she provided to so many, for so long, who needed it so much. She loved quiet things- gardening, embroidery, quilting, and nature.
She loved her husband, Paul Steven Nourse. In her later years, after retirement, her devotion and commitment to him cannot be considered anything less than remarkable. Doctor's appointments, his treatments, scans, assessments, activities, food, supplies everything. She did it all, for years, caring for him as he battled cancer and Parkinson's Disease, which he fought for 13 years until we lost him ten months ago. She was steady, like a rock. He lived a longer and happier life because of her.
Millie was an incredible mother. She was committed, focused, and tried so, so, so hard. If the work needed to be done, and she took it on; it was as good as done. Piano lessons, marching band, allergy shots, eye therapy, special meals for birthdays, cards for every occasion, silly little gifts from the Dollar Store just so grandkids could play happily on a visit.
She was also tough. Her own mother suffered from dementia for many years and Millie was the most responsible daughter anyone could have hoped for. She cared for her own mother with a blend of kindness and competency that was her hallmark. Her love for her mother shone through the grief, in even the darkest of hours. She was diligent, dutiful, and caring.
She taught those around her an important lesson. That love isn't just words
Love is action. It is service. It is quality time together. You show love by how you treat the people in your life. You show them by being patient when they are annoying. You show them when you remember to turn on the driveway light, before they come home. You show them by bringing them a muffin in bed when they are sick. In a million little ways you show love. That is what love is.
Millie Nourse is survived by her three daughters Elizabeth Nourse (Joseph Miller), Sarah Zsak (Neil Zsak), and Katherine Charlotte Nourse (Ken Dolch), grandchildren Jonah, Samantha, Abigail, Violeta "Leta", Wyatt, Lucy, Colton, and Ethan.
We will forever carry Millie in our hearts. You showed us love with everything you did, in a quiet, practical, and kind way. Thank you. You will be missed beyond measure.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Millie's memory to:
Hollywood United Methodist Church (Maryland)
https://onrealm.org/hollywoodumc/-/form/give/now