Nancy E. Lesley

Nancy Elizabeth Lesley, 69, of Louisiana, MO, passed away at her home on Friday, August 9, 2024 in Louisiana, MO. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, August 16, 2024 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Louisiana. Fr. Henry Ussher, Fr. Lou Dorn, and Deacon Mark Dobelmann officiating. Burial will be next to her parents at St. Joseph Cemetery in Louisiana, MO. Visitation will be held Thursday, August 15th from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. with a rosary service at 7:00 P.M. at the Collier Funeral Home in Louisiana, MO. Nancy was born on September 21, 1954 in Ferguson, MO to Charles and Rosemary Jean Lesley. She is survived by her daughter, Carina (Bill) Capps of Louisiana, MO, 2 grandchildren, Gretchen Capps of Jefferson City, MO and Ryan Capps of Louisiana, MO, 2 brothers, Rick (Kay) Lesley of St. Peters, MO and Mike (Charity) Lesley of Louisiana, MO, a sister, Kathy Smith of Louisiana, MO, and numerous nieces and nephews. Nancy was a 1973 graduate of Louisiana High School. She attended Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO where she obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education. She would later continue her education receiving her Master’s Degree. She would return to her hometown of Louisiana to teach elementary school for the next 32 years. She retired from Louisiana Elementary in 2010. Nancy loved teaching children and would not stay retired long. She started her second career working at St. Clement Catholic School as the after-school coordinator and would eventually add Title 1 teaching to that. She spent 13 years at St. Clement School, only stopping once her health prevented her from continuing. Nancy impacted numerous children throughout her educational career. Many of her former students over the years have shared the stories of Ms. Lesley’s class. She taught at both the Meriwether school building and the primary school on Haley Ave. She shares a distinction of having one of the first “drive through” classrooms at Meriwether, when a car veered off Highway 54 and came crashing through her classroom wall! Thankfully it was not during school hours. She was a winner of the WGEM Golden Apple Award, and was a member of the MO State Teachers Association, National Education Association, and MO Retired Teachers Association. The family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks for Pike County Home Health Care, especially Kelsey Millender and Mecia Castagna, who helped make Nancy’s final days very peaceful. We also would like to say thank you to the members of St. Joseph and St. Clement. If there was anything Nancy loved more than teaching, it was the Catholic church and the community we have here in Pike County. She enjoyed spending time with parishioners and also took communion to Lynn’s Heritage House until her health prevented her from going. The family would ask that if anyone would like to make a donation in Nancy’s memory, please choose either the Louisiana Elementary Bullpup Boosters or St. Clement Catholic School.

Nancy E. Lesley

September 21, 1954 - August 9, 2024