A child of God, Nancy Benton Gish Creasey, “Gram” departed this life on April 9, 2021 with her
loving husband holding her hand and dedicated caregivers at her bedside. She is survived by her
beloved husband Roy Melvin Creasey, daughter CarolJane Creasey Allen, son Mike David Creasey
(Linda), grandson Nicholaus Brandon Creasey and granddaughter Rachael Hope Creasey Leonard
(Brandon) and great grandsons Wyatt and Reid, sister Molly Gish Stanley (Sonny Smith),
sister-in-law Peggy ‘Boogie’ Creasey Littrell (Bill), sister-in law Marie Gish, niece Donna Stanley
(WT Pollard) and nephews Mark Gish (Sue), Glenn Gish (Wendy), Daniel (Tammy), John Stanley
(Shari), and Lou Stanley (Alex). Nancy loved her immediate family deeply and extended her love to
others (Lizzie and Bernie Leister). She was preceded in death by her father George Gale ‘Doogie’
Gish and mother Evelyn Lucille Gish, brother George Gale Gish, Jr., nephew David Gish, son-in-law
Norman E. Allen, Jr. and beloved best friends “Aunt” Rowena and “Uncle” Jim Dillenger.
As a young woman, she loved basketball and enjoyed her horse May on the Roanoke VA family
farm. She enjoyed Christian fellowships at First Baptist, Huntington Court Methodist and Bethel
Methodist Churches. Nancy graduated William Byrd High School in 1949. Previously losing her
father to illness when she was 16, she unselfishly passed on college opportunities to help her
mother support their family. Employed by the First National Bank of Roanoke, Trust Department,
she met and married the bank’s ‘runner’ in 1952 a year before his VA Tech Corps graduation.
Initially, the couple lived in St. Louis, then KY where her husband accepted a professorship
appointment with the University of Louisville, then the couple moved to Germany where they
traveled extensively throughout Europe while she supported her husband’s Air Force career. She
often shared pictures and stories of comradery and her European adventures. She loved the
beautiful European landscapes including acres of Holland tulips. They returned to Roanoke where
the couple jointly managed the Creasey family’s C&R Supermarket business. Nancy moved to
Richmond VA in support of her husband’s career with Mead Johnson later Bristol Myers Squibb
Pharmaceutical Company. She accepted a position with Jewett Printing and later Tate Engineering
where she managed inside sales, sizing pumps, compressors and gauges and consulting for
industrial engineers.
She was a loving and encouraging wife and Mom actively participating with her children’s dance,
band, sports and educational activities, always providing the best for her family. She took pride and
pleasure in organizing fish fries, water skiing events and picnics along the Rappahannock River for
friends, family and husband’s work colleagues including VCU residents and interns after their years
of training and dedication. Nancy’s intelligence and attention to detail provided her a gifts to be an
awesome bridge and poker player. Mel and Nancy often played bridge into the wee hours of the
morning with best friends Jim and Rowena. Retiring at the young age of 58 to become a snowbird,
Nancy loved organizing numerous Imperial Wilderness activities in Naples FL including shuffle
board games and tournaments, track race outings for the community of 500 neighbors as well as
bridge and poker game nights. Everyone was welcome at Nancy and Mel’s home.
Nancy loved her kitties Shazam, William, Charlie Brown and doggies Mickey, Noir, Chico and Marty.
She twinkled the piano keys easily, often playing hymns on her grand piano. As an angel of God,
she would no doubt smile when you enjoy her favorite hymn Amazing Grace in remembrance of
her. The family expresses deep gratitude for the compassionate caregivers at Memory Care of
Naples and Avow Hospice over the last three years. Gram was always treated like a beautiful
princess, clean and comfortable due your excellent care.
A Memorial Service will be held on Wed 06/16/21 3pm at Westhampton Memorial Park Mausoleum
10000 Patterson Ave Richmond, VA. In lieu of flowers, consider donations to the Humane Society
Naples-Main Shelter 370 Airport Pulling Road Naples Fl 34104 or your local place of worship.