Nancy Alexander Monteith

Nancy Carol Alexander Monteith, 92, entered her eternal life in Heaven with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 22, 2024, after an extended illness. Nancy was a member of Covenant Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Nancy was born February 24, 1932, to the late Mabel Poole and Bain Alexander. She grew up in the mountains of North Carolina near the Biltmore House and attended Lee Edwards High School. Nancy met the eternal love of her life, Larry Monteith, when both were in high school. On their second date, Larry proposed while they were attending a church service and the 16-year-old Nancy said “Yes” to the 15-year old Larry. They married on April 19, 1952, and celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in 2023, with 71 roses for Nancy and 17 pints of NC State Howling Cow Ice Cream (his favorite) for Larry.

Nancy followed Larry across country as he served in the Navy. On return to North Carolina they started a family, with three children arriving in relatively quick succession, Carol, Butch and Steve. Being a young wife, mother and homemaker was a fulltime job that Nancy took on full force and with love and passion. Once her children enrolled in school, Nancy began to work outside the home on a fulltime basis. Her expert math skills earned her manager/marketing roles in retail. Her artistic skills help her provide advertising for the dress shop Dina Porter in the old Cameron Village, now known as the Village District. Her ability to expertly manage a fulltime household, raise three children, and hold a fulltime job was best illustrated by her nickname, “The General.”

Larry rose from professor to Dean of Engineering at NC State, and then to the role of Chancellor in 1989. In her role as the Chancellor’s wife, Nancy used her artistic talents to make the Residence a place that conveyed a sense of “home” for all who entered. She made the Residence into a very welcoming and beautiful environment where everyone was treated with respect and greeted with her always present smile and enthusiasm as the official hostess. Although her role as the Chancellor’s wife was highly demanding, with many evenings and weekends consumed with her required presence at events that brought her into the public eye, she carried out every obligation with energy and grace, always aware she was representing the University to the students, faculty, staff, alumni and the general public. It was a responsibility she took seriously and with gratitude for the privilege Larry and she had been given as public servants of the people of their home State of North Carolina. Among the honored guests who visited NC State during the time Larry was Chancellor and whom she entertained were President Jimmy Carter, Dr. Maya Angelou and Mr. Fred Rogers. She greeted and treated each of the distinguished internationally known guests with the same respect she held for any member of the NC State community. Nancy had a generous heart and engaged in many acts of private charity known only to her that changed the lives of the recipients of her generosity. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and her presence in our lives will forever be present and deeply missed.

Nancy is survived by her beloved children, Carol Monteith Carroll (Kenny), Larry Alexander Monteith (Lucy), Steve King Monteith (Rhonda), Grandchildren, Nancy Carroll Norris, (Joseph), Lee Carroll, (Taylor), Stephen Carroll (fiancée, Ariel), Bain Monteith (Kelsi), Brett Monteith, Ruby Monteith, Jack Talkington, Zoe Gutierrez Alviter, Megan Monteith Alexander (Drew), Alexa Monteith Boylston (Sam), Great grandchildren, Maddie, Mallory and Kenlee Lynn Norris, Kamryn and Kason Carroll, Rorie and Palmer Alexander, Cameron Monteith and Lillie Boylston and her sister-in-law, Jan Alexander.

Nancy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Larry, her parents and her brothers, Richard Alexander, Robert Alexander and Roy Alexander. She has now been reunited with these members of her family when she entered the Kingdom of God.

The family would like to thank the loving owners of Senior Fluent, Blake and Helen Koenekamp, whose gentle spirit comforted our parents in their las years of life. We are also thankful for the compassionate caregivers: Rev. Joy Allridge, Tammy Emanuel, Rochelle Fletcher, Linda Fowler, Melva Holden, Laura Meloy, Jarren Moore, Leah Underwood, Suabrina Walker, Jamie William, Devona Yarbourough.

A visitation was held on Monday, September 30, 2024 at 2:00pm in the Mausoleum Chapel at Raleigh Memorial Park, with a funeral service beginning at 3:00pm, Rev. Janice Odom officiating.

Pallbearers were Drew Alexander, Kenny Carroll, Lee Carroll, Stephen Carroll and Gator Norris. Honorary Pallbearers were Megan Monteith Alexander, Alexa Monteith Boylston, Ariel Burroughs, Nancy Carroll Norris, Taylor Pope Carroll, Susan Coker, Page Cox, Cathy Crossland, Marlena Cruz, Jane Demeritt, Rev. Janice Odom.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Larry K. & Nancy A. Monteith Endowed Scholarship Fund at NCSU by using the link below, under ‘Donations’.

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