Nancy Gayle Milster

Nancy Gayle Milster was born Dec. 26, 1927, in De Soto, Mo. She was the daughter of John Wintha Dickey Sr. and Helen Bessie Gertrude (Uhlmann) Dickey. She died on March 16, 2011, at the John Knox Village Hospice House in Lee's Summit, Mo., at the age of 83 years, 2 months, 18 days.

Nancy attended De Soto Schools and graduated from the De Soto High School in 1945. She played flute for four years, did tap and toe in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. She attended the University of Missouri at Columbia, Mo., and Olivet College, Olivet, Mich. She worked for South Western Bell Telephone Company in St. Louis, Mo., and was married to Percy Ferman Milster Sr. April 3, 1948, in De Soto, Mo., at her parents' home.

Nancy moved to Nevada, Mo., with her husband in April 1952, and was associated with the Eichinger Funeral Home. In 1961, they became full owners of the funeral home and changed the name to the Milster Funeral Home.

Nancy belonged to the United Methodist Women (Past President); Nevada Wranglers Horse Club (Past President); Dual Member Order of Eastern Star Nevada Chapter 53 (Past Worthy Matron), Clinton Chapter 73; The White Shrine of Jerusalem No. 16; Past Matrons and Past Patrons Club of Nevada; Charter member and past president of the Soroptimist International Club of Nevada; Elizabeth Carey Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution and Past Regent; Member War of 1812-James Kearney Chapter; Beta Sigma Phi Soroity-Nevada; Daughters of American Colonist; and Red Hat Society. She was also a member of the Nevada United Methodist Church and Clinton United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her three sons, Percy Ferman (Kathryn) Milster Jr., Iowa City, Iowa, John David (Judy Mackinzie) Milster, Prescott, Ariz., Thomas Dean (Carola) Milster, Tucson, Ariz.; one daughter, Rebekah (Jim) McMillin, Sibley, Mo.; 11 grandchildren, Elizabeth Gayle Milster, Ellen Marie Davis, Sarah June Dresden, Melissa Ann McMillin, Lara Jane Roach, James Charles McMillin, John David Milster Jr., Sarah Christina Huck, Kristian Dean Milster, Staci Nicole Milster and Mikal Patrick Milster; six great-grandchildren, Dakota Lynn Dresden, Anthony James Allen Dresden, Seth Nathaniel Huck, Emma Makayla Huck, Micah Joseph Roach and Jaxson James McMillin; nieces and nephews, John Partridge, Ann Partrdige Dill, George Dickey, Mary Beth Sullivan, Jim Dickey and Pat Dickey; cousins, Nancy Ann Ream, H.C. Fincher, Earl Roberts and Gloria Maddox; sister-in-laws, Dorothy Milster and Clara Milster of St. Louis, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Percy Ferman Milster Sr., who died in May of 2003; one daughter, Constance; brother, Alfred Dickey; and sister Georgian Dickey Partridge.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 19, at Deitrich-Mothershead Funeral Home, De Soto. Visitation will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, March 19, at the funeral home.

Burial will be at the Woodlawn Cemetery in De Soto.

Arrangements are made by Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home, De Soto.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Village Hospice, a John Knox Village service, 1001 Chipman Road Lee's Summit, MO 64081.