Nancy Elaine Smitley Gillman, 66, of Bellefontaine, died Sunday, July 24, 2016, at her home, surrounded by her family after a five-year struggle with ovarian cancer.
Born in Piqua on Feb. 7, 1950, she is the third child of five and second daughter of Melvin L. and Juanita Macy Smitley.
Growing up with parents who farmed, Nancy learned much about caring for animals, tending crops and completing chores along with her brothers and sisters. She was a sensitive child who, at an early age, experienced Jesus through a mock sermon delivered by her eldest brother while at play in their home. Her spiritual journey had its ups and downs, but continued to progress as she developed more discipline and reliance upon Jesus, her Lord and Savior.
Nancy attended Concord, a rural elementary school near Troy, followed by Van Cleve Junior High School, and then graduated from Troy Senior High in 1968. That fall, she chose to be part of the pioneer class of Mount Vernon Nazarene College (now MVNU) where she completed an associate of arts degree in elementary education. She then continued to pursue her elementary education degree at Trevecca Nazarene College (now TNU) in Nashville, Tenn., and graduated in 1972.
Nancy married Rodney Gillman, her sweetheart that she had met at MVNC, and they made their home in DeGraff. She began teaching fourth-grade at Rosewood Elementary in Rosewood, and continued there for five years until deciding it was time to have a family. Initially, Nancy thought she might return to teaching after her maternity leave, but decided to postpone her career and focus her energy on raising her son, Jeremy Paul Gillman. Three years later she had a second son, Reid Douglas Gillman.
The Focus on the Family radio broadcast was a favorite of the Gillmans. Through the influence of James Dobson and an interview he had with educators Raymond and Dorothy Moore, whose book, Better Late Than Early, questioned the practice of sending children to school based on their chronological age, Nancy was inspired, along with Rodney, to homeschool their children. She explained, “We can at least give it our best effort for a year.” She persisted and one year ultimately became 12, seeing the graduation of both sons from the homeschool environment she named, Aslan Academy. This was not an individual effort by any means, and recognition is deserved by many who contributed to her success. She especially regarded Margaret O’Connor for tutoring Jeremy in Latin for three years and Rich Glink for assisting Jeremy with chemistry and welcoming him to utilize the lab facilities at Riverside High School. Nancy made the observation somewhere near the end of her homeschool teaching career that she herself had received a better education the second time around.
Nancy and her family attended the Bellefontaine Church of the Nazarene for 17 years and the Marysville Church of the Nazarene for the last 25 years. She was active in teaching children’s Sunday School classes, helping with and directing children’s ministry programs, and serving on the church board. The Nazarene Church was a huge influence in Nancy’s life, from her childhood until her later years. As you may imagine, many people have had a positive and profound life-changing influence on her. What immeasurable joy she has experienced from these loving people.
Nancy is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Ruth and Roy A. Smitley; her maternal grandparents, Etta May and Jesse Macy; her father, Melvin Lowell Smitley; and several aunts and uncles.
She is survived by her mother, J. Juanita Smitley; her husband, Rodney L. Gillman; her sons, Jeremy Paul Gillman of Hong Kong and Reid Douglas Gillman of Brenham, Texas; daughters-in-law, Karen Yau Yu and Rebecca Horne Gillman; her granddaughter, Aaliya Noelle Hoiyau Gillman; sister, Yvonne Hatfield; her brothers, Stephen Lowell Smitley, Zane Todd Smitley and Craig Allen Smitley; and numerous nieces, nephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law, aunts and uncles.
Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 29, at Jennings Farley Funeral Home & Crematory, 5591 S. U.S. Route 68, West Liberty. A funeral is at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Marysville Church of the Nazarene, 1126 N. Maple St., Marysville. Burial is in Highland Memorial Cemetery, West Liberty.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jenningsfarley.com.