Nancy Ashcraft Noles

Nancy Jane Ashcraft Noles, 76, of Monroe, NC passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, March 7, 2024. She was born in Union County on March 19, 1947, daughter to the late John Bulla Ashcraft and Nancy Kennedy Ashcraft. She is also preceded in death by her brother Rainey H. Ashcraft.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 116 S. Church Street, Monroe, NC 28112, with inurnment following in the church columbarium. The family will receive friends following the service.

Nancy is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Gary Jackson Noles Sr, two sons, Gary Jackson Noles Jr. “Jay” and wife Emery, and Lee Ashcraft Noles, three brothers, John Ashcraft, wife Debbie, Eugene Ashcraft, and Mark Ashcraft, wife Marsha, sister-in-law Teresa Ashcraft, two grandchildren Gary Jackson Noles III., (Grady), and Ella Noles, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

She graduated from Monroe High School and received her bachelor’s in history from UNC Greensboro and her Master’s degree from Queens University. Nancy taught 7th grade for 12 years at Monroe Middle School and was the Education Coordinator for the Enquirer Journal for 10 years, she also substituted with Union County Public Schools.

Nancy enjoyed many civic duties and held many titles with civic organizations such as Board of Elections for over 30 years, Union County Foundation of the Carolina Board, Co-Founder of the Literacy Council of Union County, Union County Crisis Assistance Ministry, Council on Aging, Community Health Services, Monroe Parks and Recreation, Union County Players, Board of Visitors UNCG, Parents’s Council ECU, member and president of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and held the title of Union County’s Woman of the Year 1998.

She was a faithful member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and taught Sunday school, worked with the nursery, junior choir, and Episcopal Young Churchmen, delegate to the conventions, lay leader, chalice bearer, served on Vestry, she was chairman of St. Paul’s Outreach Committee.

Nancy was a member of the Sorosis Book Club which is the 3rd oldest book club in the state, founded in 1899, also a member of the Chautauqua Book Club ( her grandmother was a charter member in 1914), and a member of the Daughters of the American Colonist.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in memory of Nancy Noles to Outreach at St. Paul's Episcopal Church,  P. O. Box 293, Monroe, NC  28111.

Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com.

Gordon Funeral Service and Crematory, 1904 Lancaster Ave., Monroe, NC 28112 is honored to be entrusted to care for the Noles Family.