Nancy Drexel

Florence (Nancy) Baker Drexel, 87 years old, passed away on March 3, 2022, surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren at St David’s Hospital in Austin, Texas. Nancy was born in Dover, Ohio on May 30, 1934, to Joel Wilbur Baker & Mary Lou (Hamby) Baker. Nancy was known as “Corky” for her love of the water, by her childhood friends she grew up with in Shaker Heights, Ohio. All her life, she was a good student, and loved water sports and riding horses!

While attending Miami University of Ohio, she met and married the love of her life, John (Jack) Allen Drexel of Bellevue, Ohio on December 28, 1955. At Miami, Nancy was a diver on the swimming and diving team. Nancy received her BS in Education on June 11, 1956. Jack joined the army and they moved to Buffalo, New York where Nancy gave birth to son, Steve (1957), while Jack was stationed in Germany. After an honorable discharge, they moved to Pittsburgh, PA in 1959 where Beth (1959) and Marcia (1960) were born.

Nancy was a stay-at-home mom until 1966. She loved to sew matching outfits for the kids and teaching them all to swim at the local pool. The family moved to Bay Village, Ohio in 1966 where Nancy started substitute teaching at nearby elementary schools, and subsequently became a full-time junior high teacher in North Olmstead, Ohio.

After moving to West Bloomfield Michigan in 1970, Nancy taught junior high school fulltime until her retirement in 1999. Nancy was a lifelong learner, attaining her MS in education while working fulltime and keeping up with the kids’ busy schedules. She stayed active swimming a mile every morning before school, coaching girls’ volleyball, and riding her beloved Appaloosa mare named Snow Marm. She enjoyed volunteering her time at Orchard Lake Presbyterian Church in Orchard Lake, Michigan and later at West Lake Hills Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas.

In retirement, Nancy enjoyed remodeling her house and helping with her grandchildren. And when all the grandchildren moved to Texas, she followed soon after. She spent lots of time traveling and caring for all four grandchildren. They were her pride and joy! She also became a proficient quilter. Quilting blankets, vests, Christmas tree skirts and many other matching outfits for family and friends. Nancy loved traveling annually to the Shakespeare festival in Toronto, Canada. She traveled all over the world with her children, grandchildren, and friends. She loved to read, play bridge, work crossword puzzles, drink margaritas and many times was the life of the party, dancing the night away!

Nancy is preceded in death by her husband Jack, sister Elizabeth Louise Baker Shrodes Fisher, and niece Terrie Shrodes Manassa. She is survived by her children; Steve (Amy) Drexel of Dublin, CA; Beth (Jeff) Holsinger of Sheridan, WY; Marcia McKeehan and Peter Haas of Austin, TX. Her four grandchildren Allison (Lee) Nalle of Austin, TX; Hope (Chris) Livingston of Richmond, TX; John (Rebecca) Drexel of Houston, TX; Bill (Grace) Drexel of Cheverly, MD; and five great grandchildren Aliza and Reese Nalle; James and Ivan Livingston; and Clive Drexel. She also leaves behind her life long, best friend, Lynn Walton Reed, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

An interment of ashes for Nancy and Jack will be held at Westlake Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX, Christmas, 2022.