Nancy Merritt Neighbors

If there were parties and celebrations to enjoy, Nancy Neighbors would be there. If there were conversations and updates to be had about family, friends, and former classmates, Nancy was in the know. If there were meals to be made to feed family and friends filling her dining room, Nancy’s hand would be on nearly every delicious dish. If there were comforting hugs necessary to provide condolences or sassy words needed to make you laugh through tears, you could always count on Nancy for the perfectly imperfect response. Oh, to hear her unmistakable laugh along with ours one more time. Nancy Merritt Neighbors, 69, of Garner, NC, died at Duke University Hospital surrounded by loved ones on Saturday, March 25, 2017, after briefly fighting kidney failure and pneumonia. Born a fun and feisty little firecracker to Viola “Mugg” Ward Merritt and Paul Ray Merritt on November 18, 1947 in Garner, NC, Nancy was also big sister to “Gee” (Georgia Merritt Rummage). Nancy attended Garner High School, graduating in 1966, with a group of friends she’d grown up with since they were all knee high.  She cultivated those friendships with the same seemingly effortless touch as she did the exquisite orchids that now thrive in her living room, the same spot where she spent countless hours crocheting baby blankets, stuffed animals, and other creations she so frequently gave away as gifts. After high school, Nancy attended Troutman College of Cosmetology and began a career as a hair stylist before joining her “second” family at Farm Bureau, where she worked for more than 20 years until retiring in 2009. Besides having a cold beer in one hand, you would most often see Nancy with a phone in her other, catching up with the comings and goings of family, classmates, and other friends. The topic of conversation she loved most, though, was her family: children, grandchildren, and cousins close and closer. As often as she was called “friend” by so many, Nancy’s favorite titles were “Mom” to sons Paul and Brian Neighbors, “Ms. Nancy” to daughters-in-law Jennifer and Cindy (respectively), “Nanny” to beloved grandchildren Keegan and Skylar (Paul and Jennifer) and Jernigan and Jackson (Brian and Cindy), and “Aunt Nancy” to Robert Paul “Rooster” Merritt (Merritt), Abe Rummage (Kathy, Brodie and Mack), and Brian and Stephen Etheridge. We can hear Nancy saying, “Don’t send flowers to me now… you should’ve sent them to me while I was alive!” We think she would instead want any gifts be made in her name to the Autism Society of North Carolina (autismsociety-nc.org) or the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte (dsa-gc.org). Now that she’s there as a new resident, we think Heaven likely looks a lot like the beach house “Live Oak” which stands oceanfront at East Oak Island. Waiting for Nancy on the deck with a cool drink will be her mother, father, and countless family members and friends who are sure to have one fantastic welcome home party in her honor. Back here at home, family and friends will celebrate – and we mean CELEBRATE – the life of Nancy Neighbors on Saturday, April 8, 2017. Bryan-Lee Funeral Homes is handling the arrangements. There will be a memorial service at 3 p.m. at Holland’s United Methodist Church (UMC) at 9433 Ten-Ten Road, Raleigh, NC 27603. Following the services, celebrants will meet up for another party at Nancy’s house for storytelling and carousing. It will be the type of day she would not have missed.