Nancy Louise Hart

Nancy passed away peacefully on April 4, 2025, at home after a brief illness.
Nancy was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on October 1, 1935. Nancy was born to a single mother, and she spent the first 4 years of her life switching between her mother and foster care. In 1939, her mother brought her to Escondido, California where she met her future parents, Arthur and Agnes Perrine, who adopted her shortly thereafter.
Nancy grew up in Escondido, California and often talked about her wonderful childhood, frequent church trips, and many childhood friends, some of whom remained friends throughout her life. She attended Escondido High School and was active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship. She enjoyed glee club, pep rallies, football games and class plays, graduating from EHS in 1954.
After high school, Nancy attended Palomar College and Whittier College where she graduated and obtained her teaching credential. After college, Nancy met Joe Travis Hart at a church camp in Julian, and they began dating. Nancy and Joe were married on August 23rd, 1957, at First Methodist Church in Escondido.
Nancy began her teaching career in Escondido and later moved to Fullerton where both Nancy and Joe were teachers. She took several years off to deliver and care for her three sons, Jim (1959), Mike (1961), and Bill (1963), before the young family moved to San Diego where Nancy began teaching again. The family finally settled in Carlsbad in 1967. Mrs. Hart was a favorite kindergarten and first grade teacher, teaching at Jefferson, Magnolia, and Kelly Elementary Schools. She finally ended her career at Hope Elementary school in the late 1990's, after teaching for an impressive total of 37 years. She loved her job, especially singing kindergarten songs, reading books, and arts and crafts with her students. She had many friends amongst her co-workers and spoke fondly of her teachers' book clubs that continued well into her late years.
In addition to her teaching career, Nancy helped her husband Joe establish his dream; Hart Winery. The family purchased land to plant grapes in Temecula in 1973 and opened Hart Winery in 1980. In the early years of the winery, Nancy poured wine on the weekends and helped sell and market wine. Although never a formal employee, Nancy supported her husband's dream both emotionally and often financially until the winery sold after Joe's death in 2022.
Nancy loved traveling and traveled extensively in the Eastern Sierra, Baja California and the Southwest. She loved Native American artifacts and extensively collected folk art during her travels, first with her family and then alone with her husband Joe.
Nancy was beloved by all who knew her; friends, family, her three sons, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Nancy loved spending time with family and never hesitated to put together a special dinner. The meals she cooked for birthdays and holidays were legendary. Family gatherings were eagerly anticipated and rarely missed.
We will greatly miss our beloved mom, our Grandma Lego, the rock who held our family together, the center of all of it. We will continue the traditions she insisted on; holiday family meals, casual get-togethers, sharing stories, sharing good books and movies. Life goes on but the world is a better place for Nancy Hart having been a part of it.
Nancy is survived by her son, Jim, of Ramona, his son Mike (Denise) of Oceanside, her grandchildren; Carrie (Evan) of Oceanside, Chris (Lindsey) of Carlsbad, Ryan (Danielle) of Vista, Michelle of Joshua Tree, Brandon (Madalyn) of Oceanside, and six great-grandchildren. Nancy was preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years, Joe Travis, her parents, Arthur and Agnes Perrine, a brother, William, her son Bill, her daughter in-law Trish, her daughter-in-law Christine, and a great-grandson Tommy.
No formal services are planned; however a very joyful celebration of a wonderful life is certainly forthcoming!