Nancy R Roberts' Obituary
Nancy Ruth Roberts was born on October 20th, 1953, to Kenneth and Helen Roberts, in Lakeland, Florida and entered into rest on April 30th, 2024, at the age of 70 years old.
Nancy was an active member of Southside Baptist Church in Lakeland where she attended Sunday School, youth group, and sang in the choir. She graduated from Lakeland High School with the class of 1971. During High School, Nancy was active in the marching band, playing Bassoon. Nancy received a music scholarship for music studies and went on to attend and graduate from Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Georgia with an AA degree. She participated in the choir and the handbell choir. At one point, the choir made a trip to the Middle East and performed at various locations there, and sang for the King of Jordan. Nancy had an opportunity to attend a college in South Carolina on a music scholarship. Nancy instead married and worked at a Georgia hospital. After five years, Nancy divorced and moved home to Lakeland, Florida. She worked for the Lakeland Police Department for a year. She then started working for Lakeland Regional Medical Center (LRMC). After working in several departments, Nancy found her spot on the mother/baby unit, as the birth certificate registrar. After over 36 years of working for LRMC, Nancy retired in July of 2016.
Nancy and Kate met in the fall of 1989 at Nancy’s house in Lakeland when a mutual friend was moving into the side apartment. Everyone was totally grungy from the day’s hard work. Kate noticed Nancy’s eyes, flashes of fire and ice. After being friends for two years, they took a trip to New Orleans and Nashville on May 3, 1991. When they returned from their trip on May 10, 1991 Nancy went home with Kate and never lived in her own home again. They lived together in Kate’s family home in Bartow until they built their home together in Lakeland in 1997. In the 33 years that Nancy and Kate spent together, they took many trips, including to Europe, the continental United States and Canada. Nancy loved anything pig themed and had a large Beanie Baby collection. Christmas was Nancy’s favorite holiday. She and Kate had large family Christmas gatherings in their home every year with up to 25 family members present. Nancy valued spending time with family. In recent years, two generations of nieces and nephews have gathered immediately following the Thanksgiving holiday to decorate multiple Christmas trees, the home and yard. The first generation did all of the shopping so that the children always had gifts from Aunt Nancy and Aunt Kate.
Nancy enjoyed the simple things in life such as her cats, feeding the birds, music, and watching T.V. including reruns and football games, especially the Florida Gators.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents Helen A. Roberts and Kenneth E. Roberts Sr., and sister Debbie Turner.
Nancy is survived by her partner of 33 years Kate Markley, brother Gene Roberts, 9 nieces and nephews, and 20 great nieces and nephews, and one great-great nephew. She will be greatly missed by her family, many friends, former co-workers, and neighbors.
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