Nancy Marie Mather Irwin

Nancy Marie Mather Irwin, 72, of Tallahassee passed away Wednesday morning, June 3rd at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare following a brief illness. She was born on September 8, 1942 in Evansville, Indiana to Deane Winslow and Frieda Nelson Mather. She spent her early childhood there before moving to Ocala, Florida where she graduated from Ocala High School in 1961. She attended the University of Florida where she met her husband-to-be on a blind date. She left Gainesville in 1963 to get her “MRS” degree as she liked to call it. She remained an avid Gator Fan and was always decked out in Orange and Blue. She was a Gator Booster and traveled to home football games every year until last season.

On November 9, 1963 she married Calvin Leroy Irwin and they left the next day in a moving van bound for Washington D.C. where Leroy had taken a job at the Smithsonian. Leroy and Nancy would return to Florida shortly after the birth of their daughter for Leroy to start a new job at Eglin Air Force Base. While in Niceville, they celebrated the birth of their son. When the kids started elementary school, they moved to Lake City, Florida where Nancy worked part time teaching kindergarten at the First United Methodist Church there. She was a great teacher and also became the school bus driver for the church. One year, she managed to trade her services as a bus driver for private school tuition for both kids. The Irwin family finally settled down in Tallahassee in 1977. Once in Tallahassee, Nancy began working for the State of Florida in various capacities, ultimately retiring from Department of Education after 27 years of service. Although they never got a traditional honeymoon, they spent most of the marriage traveling all over the globe making up for it. She and Leroy were able to visit 48 states and were avid “cruisers” logging over 25 voyages at sea.

Nancy was an active member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and had been a member of the Tallahassee Chapter #119, Order of Eastern Star; a member of the Order of Rainbow Girls; she served as Worthy Advisor in the Ocala Chapter, Mother Advisor for the Niceville Chapter, and on the Advisory Board for the Northwood Assembly #127 in Tallahassee. She was also an active member in the Walk to Emmaus.

Nancy is survived by her husband of over 51 years, Calvin Leroy Irwin; a daughter, Pamela Irwin Monnier (Filaure); a son, David Leroy Irwin (Anna); her sisters, Marion Mather Sayger of Crestview, Elizabeth Mather Marchinton (Larry) of Athens, Ga.; and her beloved grandchildren Lindsey Marie Irwin (fiancé Kameron Martinez); Logan Filaure Monnier, and Emily Rose Monnier.

In addition, Nancy and Leroy’s family grew over the years to include many “adopted” sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters encountered during their numerous travels and missionary trips. Their home was known by many as the Irwin International Inn. While Leroy was often the one to bring home a “the strays,” Nancy was always happy to welcome them with open arms and give them a safe haven. She became family to 3 generations from two families they met on an UMVIM trip to Chihuahua, Mexico in the mid 80’s. Later, after several trips to Cuba to visit and aid a sister church there, she and Leroy returned with a whole community that now called them family. Many called to give their condolences when they heard that “Mama Nancy” had passed, even though they had only a few words of English with which to share their message. There we travelers, exchange students and relatives from Germany and France who all spent time at Irwin International and made it their home away from home. Nancy will be missed by loved ones all over the world.

Visitation will be Friday, June 5th from 5-8:00PM at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home, Riggins Road. The funeral service will be Saturday at 2:00 PM at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1700 N Meridian Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32303. Interment will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to a memorial fund at Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church in her memory.