Nancy Gail Engle left this world in the early morning of June 19, 2026, at the age of 85. Now before anyone gets depressed about that, it was the greatest blessing she ever received. Do not be sad about it. She always longed to be in the presence of her Lord and Savior and back surrounded by her family. She is sitting on the porch, drinking southern sweet tea with her father (JB Engle), her mother (Betty Engle), her sisters Katherine Engle Harris, Patricia Engle Cole and her baby sister that died at birth Barbara Joyce. Also, there are several other folks who were waiting on her including her brother-in-law Steve Harris and her step-nephew Bruce Harris. You can bet the farm that was some reunion at the pearly gates. It may be Heaven but someone said “it’s about damn time”. You can take that to the bank.
Nancy was unique. Not going to sugar coat it. She could tell a story about going to the grocery store and somehow make it include the weather in Mississippi, a family story from Pennsylvania and what it was like growing up during and after WWII. She was also the world record holder for a speaking one breath sentence without punctuation: Fourteen minutes twenty-seven seconds. Her sister Katherine would literally see the train coming, set the phone down, pick it up about every five minutes to say “uh huh” and then set the phone back down. So yeah, she was unique. But she was ours and we loved her all the more because of it.
She was a woman who never had kids of her own but decided her nieces and nephews were her kids. Oh, did she love them. Amy Schultz, Ellen Vickery and Alex Harris had two mommas and that was just how the family saw it too. It takes a special kind of dedication to take three kids under 10 to the movies regularly and then play Star Wars, or Star Trek, in the car on the way home. Her jump to light speed was a thing of beauty.
Nancy was also strong in her faith. Late in life she listened to the calling to be a minister. The next thing the family knew she was ministering a little one room Methodist church in Gurley, AL that looked like it was fresh off the set for Little House on the Prairie. The members all had blue hair and walkers. In other words, the perfect church for her.
Nancy is survived by her nieces, Amy and Ellen (daughters of Patricia) as well as her nephews, Alex and Jeffery (sons of Katherine); grandnephews, William and Wesley Schultz and Tyler and Mason Vickery; step-nephew, Alec Willis (son of Alex); step-grandniece, Becca Sweeting; and step-grandnephew, Rob Harris (children of Bruce). Joyfully, she even lived long enough for great-nephews and nieces come into the world. Three for William (he’s busy) and one for Becca.
Celebrate, everyone. Nancy is no longer suffering and is the happiest she has ever been. Thank you God for accepting her with open arms. We’re just curious how much of the pitcher of tea was left before she took a breath and you got to say hello.
A graveside service will be held at Maple Hill Cemetery on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 10:00 am.
