Nancy Lou (Herchelroth) Eater, 81, of Athens, passed away at her home, Tuesday November 5, 2013 with her husband of 49 years and her four daughters by her side, after a long battle with breast cancer.
She was born in Bainbridge, PA, on January 25, 1932; she was the daughter of Benjamin and Ivah (Byerly) Herchelroth.
Nancy was educated in local area schools and graduated from East Donegal High School in 1949. After graduation, Nancy became an early “Career Girl,” working for an insurance company in Marietta, PA, followed by a stint working in procurement for the federal government in St. Louis, MO.
She had returned to Pennsylvania and was working for Hamilton Watch in Lancaster as a keypunch operator when she married her husband, Charles H. Eater, then a Lt (jg) in the U S Navy.
Nancy’s life became more nomadic at that time as Charlie was transferred from port to port. Life could be challenging as Nancy raised her brood of daughters during those early years. With Charlie frequently at sea, the girls remember periodic references to retribution “Wait until your father gets home!” Finding a church and joining the religious community at each duty station was always a comfort.
When Charlie retired from the Navy in 1970, they moved to Madison, Maine, the frequent moves ceased and life turned to farming, familiar to Nancy from her early years. Farming has a rhythm, linked to the seasons, that provides a natural way to order one’s life and lends itself to raising children as one tends to the myriad details of keeping up with the chores. Nancy and Charlie sold the farm in 1987 when the work became too demanding, but maintained their very large garden in their new home at the top of Eames Hill in Madison, growing, harvesting and preserving practically every vegetable that will grow in Maine and some fruits as well. Three years ago, in November 2010, Nancy and Charles moved into a new apartment above their daughter Kate’s garage and began to share their garden duties.
Nancy is survived by her husband, Charles H. Eater of Athens, and four daughters; Rebecca Ferrera and her husband Gary and their children Nicole, Mikayla, Christian and Ethan of Littleton, CO, Marilyn Silocka and her husband Tom of Bar Harbor; Barbara Dangler and her husband Danny and their children Chad, Lindsay, Ali, Jaime and Christy of Clinton; Kate Linkletter and her husband Alan and their children Sara and Megan of Athens, Nancy’s great-grandchildren Coby, Gavin, Danielle, Jackson, Emily, Samantha, Lexi and Brodie, Nancy’s siblings; brother Lehman (Pete) Herchelroth and her younger sister Rachel Bates, are also surviving.
Nancy is predeceased by her parents Ivah and Benjamin Herchelroth and her sister Virginia, and brothers Joseph, Benjamin and John.
Viewing hours will be held on Friday November 8, 2013 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine. A funeral service will be held on Saturday November 9, 2013 at 2p.m.at the Church of the Open Bible, Main Street, Athens, Maine.
The family wishes to express their gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the Maine General Health Reach Hospice team and the Oncology Department at Redington Fairview General Hospital of Skowhegan for their kind, compassionate and wonderful care provided during Nancy’s final days.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine.
Donations may be made in Nancy’s memory to the Redington Fairview General Hospital, PO Box 468, Skowhegan, Maine 04976, or to the Maine General Health Reach Hospice, Office of Philanthropy, PO Box 829, Waterville, Maine 04901.
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