Mrs. Nancy Taylor Irvin, 91, wife of the late Melvin Kegley Irvin, died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at Commonwealth Senior Living (formerly The Hermitage on the Eastern Shore) in Onancock.
Born Sept. 2, 1927, at her family’s home in Pungoteague, she was a daughter of the late George Collier Taylor and Lillian Guy Taylor.
In 1948, she graduated from Longwood College with a degree in education and began a longtime career in education. She started teaching at Central High School in Painter, from which she graduated. Mrs. Irvin was fond of sharing outstanding leadership or artistic quality her students exhibited in an English, Spanish, or music class. These same qualities were recognized in their extracurricular organizations at Central. Due to having a junior homeroom period, she advised many prom committees through the years, served as advisor for their yearbook, The Sandfly, and directed the Central High Glee Club, which performed annually at graduation. Prior to her retirement from the Accomack County Public School System, she was a guidance counselor at Central and Onancock High Schools. Following her educational career, Mrs. Irvin accepted a part-time office job at the local Virginia Department of Forestry.
She was a member of Market Street United Methodist Church in Onancock, serving on the altar guild, which enabled her to share her talents of flower arranging for the altar and throughout the church. Mrs. Irvin also enjoyed gardening around her home and community and playing tennis with friends throughout the years.
Confronted with health and eyesight difficulties, she decided to make her home at The Hermitage in March 2008. During her many years there, she received much love, care, and support from the staff, to whom her family wishes to express their sincere praise and gratitude. They also want to thank Riverside Shore Hospice for providing comfort in her last days.
Survivors include her three children, Catherine Irvin Chavarri, of Metairie, La., Melvin Collier Irvin and his wife, Karen, of Ashburn, Va., and Gregory Taylor Irvin and his wife, Kathy, of Franklin, Tenn.; six grandchildren, David, Melanie, Zach, Catherine, Jason and Lindsay; and eleven great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by a sister, Jane Taylor Ingram.
Funeral services were conducted from the chapel of the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home, Feb. 27, 2019, with Pastor Robert Fletcher officiating. Interment was at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Market Street United Methodist Church, 75 Market St., Onancock, VA 23417, or to the Onancock Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 28, Onancock, VA 23417.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements were made by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.
