Nancy Gayle White

Nancy Gayle Renfroe White, 79, peacefully entered eternal rest in the early morning hours of Monday, September 30, 2024, at the home of her loving friend and caregiver, Dixie Rozema, in St. George, Utah. 

Nancy, the youngest of six children, was born in Ashland, KY on December 1, 1944 to the late Ernest Virgil and Vivian Robinson Renfroe. Nancy chose to serve the Living God and remained faithful until her death. 

Her early childhood years were spent on the small family farm on Daniel’s Fork in Boyd County, KY. Later, moving to Renfroe Street in Ashland, she graduated from Ashland High School in 1962. Nancy worked her way through college, completing her education degree from Morehead State University. She would come home on weekends to work at the Western Hills Motor Lodge, of which she told many funny stories. All her family would later say her stories were definitely funny, but listening to her tell one with her contagious laugh was the best part. She later completed her Master’s degree at Marshall University. Nancy began her teaching career at Cannonsburg Elementary before moving to Milton, W. Va. She taught and later became principal at Rock Branch Elementary and finished her career as principal at Hurricane Town Elementary. Her staff loved and appreciated her dedication to the education of our youth. She treated the custodians, cooks and other school personnel with the same respect and gratitude as the teachers. Above all, she loved the children and wanted the best for their futures. 

Nancy had an attitude of resilience and hope. Her sweet demeanor and constant smile were a light to all she encountered. She never had children but was a mother and grandmother to many. To our family, she was our special “Nano” and all her nieces and nephews loved and adored her.

In addition to her parents, Nancy was preceded in death by her brothers, Bill Renfroe and his wife Ann, and Ernest Virgil Renfroe, Jr; sister Mary Lou Geyer and her husband, Garis; brother-in-law Rodney Geyer; a special niece that was like a sister, Pamela Jo Renfroe; nephews Mark Renfroe and Brock Taylor; lifelong friends, Peggy Melton, Mary Ann Crance and Jane Burnside Harless. 

Survivors include sisters Delores Pennington (Elwood) of Ashland and Mollie Geyer of Pontotoc, MS; nieces and nephews Tim and Sharon Renfroe, Amy and Dan Williams, Kathy Adkins, Ernest Renfroe III, Lisa and Clancy Malone, Deanna and Dale Jones, Debbie and Terry Setser, Dean and Kristen Pennington, Jill and Randy Donta, Scott and Dawn Geyer, Anita and Tim Huff, and Julie and Ritchie Little. Additional survivors include great-nieces and nephews: Robby, Haleigh, Matthew, Alexander, Danica, Jennifer, Michael, MacKenzie, Derek, Drew, Amber, Eric, David, Elisabeth, Chase, Allie, Caroline, Caleb, Carlie, Luke, Landon, Leland, Clark, Evan and Emilie; great-great nieces and nephews: Jake, Kelsi, Kaden, Dane, Dylan, Payton, Blakely, Cole, Miles, Callum, Vivienne, and Josie. She is also survived by her close friend, Linda Kay Freeman.

Nancy will be brought back to Kentucky and buried alongside her parents at Rose Hill Burial Park with Caniff Funeral Home assisting. A celebration of life memorial will take place in Ashland, KY at a later date. The family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Community Hospice of Ashland 1480 Carter Avenue, Ashland, KY 41101, UK Markey Cancer Foundation 115 Waller Ave Ste 204 Lexington, KY 40503, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.