Nancy was a teacher at Goucher Street Elementary, Lehman Elementary, and Villa Madonna Catholic School. After retiring from Villa Madonna, she volunteered to teach music to all early childhood classes at the school. Nancy truly loved her profession and left a legacy not only with the children she taught, but with the teachers, staff, and parents as well. She was known for her “pointer finger”…and it worked!! Open house at Villa always created problems, especially for those parents who found out their child wasn’t in her class. She was easily the most popular, well-loved, and respected teacher on staff.
Nancy also loved her rescue dogs, especially Murphy, her deaf Australian Shepherd, whom she trained to respond to sign language.
She also played the piano beautifully and could crochet with the best of them. She was also a member of Lake Magdalene Methodist Church and used her crocheting skills to make blankets for babies in local hospitals. Everyone she came in contact with LOVED her! She made her dash count!
She joins her beloved husband P. Barry Cushing, her mother Millicent Gist, her father Fred Gist Sr., her brother Fred Gist Jr., and her brother-in-law Tom Cushing in heaven.
Nancy is survived by her sister-in-law Nancy Cushing, her nephew Tommy Cushing, his wife Brittany, children McKenzie and Claire, niece Deb Elder, her husband Chris, children Patrick and Colin.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Nancy’s name to Villa Madonna Catholic School, Salesian Sisters, Humane Society of Tampa Bay and/or Suncoast Hospice Care Center North Pinellas. Please click on the links below.
