Obituary of Grace Davis-Nerney

EC DAVIS-NERNEY Grace Davis-Nerney, 66, of 107 Small Drive, Elizabeth City, NC, died Sunday, March 6, 2005 at Albemarle Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Emery and Ezma Blazer Davis, and was the wife of Robert Francis Nerney of the residence. Mrs. Davis-Nerney was born in Bellaire, OH, but grew up in Shadyside, OH, on the Ohio River. She was a graduate of Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas. She spent her entire career in federal civilian service with the Department of Navy, Office of Personnel Management, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Federal Aviation Administration, from which she retired in 1994 as manager of Human Resources for the Alaska Region, in Anchorage, AK Since 1994 she and her husband have resided in Elizabeth City. Grace was an active member of her church, the Bayside Church of Christ, and of TOPS, Chapter 399. She was also a member of the North Carolina Writers Network, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Pasquotank River Yacht Club. A journalism major in college, she was finally able to indulge her passion for writing after retirement, producing a weekly column for the Daily Advance, as well as numerous articles for both the Daily Advance and the Virginian Pilot. At the time of her passing she was working on a family history and a children’s fantasy novel. She also volunteered unstintingly of her time, serving for a while as a tutor at a local elementary school, and with other members of her church, producing stuffed ‘care bears’ for the local hospital and emergency services. Grace was active for many years in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life program, and assisted with various Pasquotank Arts Council projects. Survivors include her husband, Robert F. Nerney, a daughter Alicia A. Pagel and her husband Mark, of Oro Valley, Arizona; a son Allen Phillips and his wife Lyla, of McGraw, NY; a brother, William Davis of Ft. Walton Beach, Fl; two sisters, Lila Rose of Shadyside, OH, and Maxine Banks, of Corsicana, TX; and two grand daughters. A memorial service will be held Thursday March 10, 2005, at 11:00 A. M. at the Bayside Church of Christ with Mike Lucas officiating. The family will join friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 P. M. to 8:00 P. M. at Twiford Funeral Home Memorial Chapel. 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC. The family suggests that memorial contributions be directed to: the American Cancer Society, c/o 404 Jessup Street, Elizabeth City, NC 27909, or to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, 5841 Cedar Lake Road, Suite 204, Minneapolis, MN 55416. Twiford Funeral Home, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is serving the Davis-Nerney family. You may sign the online guest register at www.twifordfh.com.