Nancy Joan Moore Barnett, 75, of Hill View Retirement Community in Portsmouth, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2008, at SOMC Hospice Center.

Nancy was born Aug. 21, 1932, in Portsmouth, to the late Opal Merrill Walker and Hubert Collins Moore. She was a retired educator, having taught from 1965 through 1972, in Washington Local and Portsmouth City School districts. When Scioto Technical College was founded, she began teaching English there in 1972, and left the local college in 1983, having attained the rank of associate professor at Shawnee State University. Residing in Pasadena, Texas, from 1983 until 1991, she was an instructor at San Jacinto College and taught at Pasadena High School. She was a graduate of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, and was named a “Jennings Scholar” there in 1970. She earned her master's degree in English in 1970, graduating cum laude from Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va.

Mrs. Barnett was a longtime member of Nauvoo United Methodist Church in West Portsmouth, a member of the Portsmouth chapters of Order of the Eastern Star and White Shrine of Jerusalem, Ohio Retired Teachers Association, Joseph Spencer Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, and a member of several Ohio and Kentucky genealogical societies.

Surviving are her husband, Robert Wesley Barnett Sr., whom she married April 28, 1951, at Nauvoo United Methodist Church in West Portsmouth; two sons, Dr. Robert (Stephanie) Barnett Jr. of Ironton, Ohio, and John Collins (Cathy) Barnett of Pasadena, Texas; two daughters, Judith Ann (Rob) Ellsesser-Painter of Bidwell, Ohio, and Linda Sue (Ron) McCain of Portsmouth, Ohio; a sister, June Merrill Tolin of Mercer, Pa.; and a brother, Hubert Thomas (Kathy) Moore of Portsmouth, Ohio.

Surviving also are 11 grandchildren, Alexandra Nicole Ellsesser, Caitlin Christine Ellsesser and Joan Elizabeth Ellsesser, formerly of South Webster, Kathryn Marie Barnett, Robert Wesley Barnett III, Sarah Elyse Barnett and Trenton Chandler Barnett, all of Ironton, Ohio, Natalie Ann McCain and Mollie Mae McCain of Portsmouth, and J.C. Barnett Jr. and Taylor Jane Barnett, both of Pasadena, Texas.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008, at Nauvoo United Methodist Church in West Portsmouth, with the Rev. John Gowdy officiating and internment in Scioto Burial Park. Friends may call at Roger W. Davis Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, and at the church one hour before the service Tuesday.

Memorial contributions may be made in the form of donation to the Portsmouth Public Library in the memory of Mrs. Barnett.

Condolences may be sent to www.rogerwdavisfuneralhome.com.

1/6/08