Barbara “Nanny” Elaine Pace, 81, a resident of Gonzales, Louisiana, passed away unexpectedly on June 20th, 2025. She was born in Alexandria, Louisiana on November 4th, 1943, to Eli Richard Nash and Essie Stokes Nash and grew up in rural Rapides Parish. She attended Oak Hill High School in Elmer, Louisiana and completed beauty school in Alexandria, Louisiana. She had a career as a beautician for thirty years.
In 1965, Elaine and her family relocated to Ascension Parish, where she fell in love with the people and embraced the culture. Although, she grew up in the piney hills of central, Louisiana, she truly considered the swamps of south Louisiana her home. She always joked that if she left Ascension parish and the swamps of south Louisiana for too long, her web feet would dry up.
She enjoyed the simple things in life. She loved pretty flowers, drinking her Community Coffee out of her special porcelain cups, spending time with her family and watching LSU football. She absolutely adored her fur baby, Benji and took him everywhere she went. To Nanny, he was another one of her babies.
Nanny considered her greatest role to be a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her world truly revolved around her family. She opened her heart and home to so many over the years, that those people who came to know her, also called her Nanny.
She is survived by her children, Barbara Pace Mumphrey (Paul), Cheryl Pace Eccard (David) and Scott Pace (Dana); grandchildren, Cody Mumphrey (Natalie), Rory Mumphrey (Miranda), Kati Crews (Jeff), Hannah Pace and Lainey Rider (Micah); great grandchildren, Kenley, Hollin, Rami, Makay, Noelle, Henry, Jack Mumphrey, George Senchak, Nathan Rider, Annie Rider and Bowden Rider.
She is preceded in death by parents, Eli and Essie Nash; brothers, Sherman, Earl, Robert Nash and beloved grandson, Victor Rabb Cross III “Trey”.
A visitation for Nanny will be held Wednesday, June 25, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Ourso Funeral Home, 13533 Airline Hwy, Gonzales, Louisiana 70737, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM.
Nanny will be laid to rest in Serenity Oaks Memorial Park, 15304 Hwy 73, Prairieville, LA.
