Nancy Joyce Keggan

Nancy Joyce (Curren) Keggan passed away peacefully at home on 11 September 2021, aged 86. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Richard Curren and wife Joan; sister JoAnn Jones and husband Ivan; and sisters-in-law Marge Keggan and Renee Keggan.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years Robert H. Keggan (Lt. Col. USAF, retired), daughter Cheryl Lynn Keggan; grandson Christopher Keggan and his wife Amber, great grandchildren Ean and Jenna; and grandson Michael Keggan. Also survived by brothers-in-law John and Daniel Keggan, many nieces and nephews, and extended Curren family relatives.

Nancy Joyce was born to Rivera L. Curren and Mary Louise (Deal) Curren on 14 February 1935 in Marion, Ohio. She graduated a year early from Marion's Harding High School, an unusual thing in the 1950s, and then attended Ohio State University, where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, and a degree as a Dental Hygienist. After graduation, she and Robert, also of Marion, Ohio, were married in October 1955.

During their early married life the Air Force took them many places. The first three assignments were: the Air Reserve Training Center, Memphis TN, where Robert was an Instructor Navigator, and during which time their daughter Cheryl was born. Then off to Lajes Field on the Portuguese island of Terceira, Azores; a tropical and unique experience while Robert flew with the Air Rescue Squadron. After their overseas adventure they returned to Ohio with a posting at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, allowing them to be near family. A temporary assignment to Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL, while Robert attended Squadron Officer School. Soon after their return, Nancy enrolled in the first classes at the "Dayton Branch of Miami University" which became the new Wright State University. She was on the first Honor Roll there. Later, Robert was transferred to Arizona State University to finish his degree in Civil Engineering. Nancy also enrolled at ASU and finished her bachelor and master's degrees in education. She began her teaching career in Phoenix for one year before moving back to Marion, Ohio and teaching for one year at Oakland Elementary, while Robert was on a remote assignment. After a year in Marion Nancy, Robert and Cheryl moved back to the Dayton area, and in the fall of 1968 Nancy began teaching at East Elementary in Fairborn, Ohio. They moved to Beavercreek in January of 1969, where they have lived ever since.

Nancy was a dedicated elementary teacher who taught at both East Elementary and Five Points Elementary. She had a total of 32 years teaching, with 30 of those in Fairborn. Remarkably she had a student from each of three generations of one Fairborn family. She considered all of her students "my children" and gave each one her special love and attention. She often told her students that they could accomplish anything, as long as they never quit trying. She never marked a math answer as wrong, but rather put a light circle around the item - and asked the child to try again. She was excellent at teaching both mathematics and reading, with her classes consistently scoring much higher than grade level average every year. She was a lifetime member of the National Education Association, and served for a time as President of the Fairborn Teacher's Association.

Nancy was interested in many things in her life. She learned to play piano as a child, and played for pleasure all her life. Among her many hobbies she taught herself to read French, decorated ceramics and did china painting with her mother, dabbled in painting, collected antique glass, and did hundreds of hours of family genealogy research. She was a Daughter of The American Revolution, with multiple military ancestors who fought in the Revolution, and a member of First Families of Ohio.

Nancy was also an accomplished needle worker who created many pieces of beautiful crewel work, embroidery, cross stitch, and other needlework. She loved books and was highly interested in reading about history, astronomy and physics, and had a large collection of cookbooks. Like her mother, she loved flowers and gardening, including raising and showing orchids with her husband for over 20 years. In her later years she loved birdwatching and feeding the birds and squirrels.

Nancy was a former member of Mary Help of Christians (Fairborn), and a member of St. Luke Parish (Beavercreek).

The family will receive friends at Newcomer Funeral Home, Beavercreek, Ohio on Wednesday September 29, 2021 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM with a service at 7:00 PM.

Interment will be private. Donations in her Memory may be made to the Marion County Historical Society, 169 East Church St, Marion, Ohio 43302 or the Ohio Genealogical Society, 611 State Route 97 West, Bellville, OH 44813