Nancy Jolene (Garwood) Luman, 84, of Novinger, Missouri, passed away Friday, December 5, 2025, at the LaPlata Nursing Home in LaPlata, Missouri.

Born October 15, 1941 in Kirksville, Missouri, Nancy was the daughter of the late Harold French and Wilma Lucille (Hayden) Garwood. She was also preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Freddie and Irene Luman; her sister and brother-in-law, Vi and Buzz Culler; and one great-granddaughter, Ann Marie Rinne.

Nancy is survived by her husband Gary of sixty-six years; one daughter and son-in-law Lori and Randy King; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Stephen and Amy Luman and Mike Luman; nine grandchildren, Tatha (Brian) Farnan, Alisha Rinne, Drew (Carlee) Luman, Erin (Cristie) Desmond, Katie (Kyle) Allen, Aric (Jen) Luman, Alex (Kristen) Luman, Evan Luman, and Gabrielle Saltz; seventeen great-grandchildren; as well as two step-grandchildren.

Nancy received her education in the Kirksville public schools and was a proud graduate of the Class of 1959. On June 21, 1959, Nancy was united in marriage to Gary E. Luman, and they moved to the family farm where she lived for 66 years. In her early years of marriage, Nancy was a devoted stay-at-home farm wife, helping raise her children and supporting the daily life and work of the farm.

Nancy was a beloved room mother while her children were in elementary school and was active in the El Kadir Shrine Club. She was also very involved with the Class of 1959 Reunion Committee and treasured reconnecting with her classmates at every reunion.

In 1985, at the age of 44, Nancy pursued her long-held dream of becoming a nurse and graduated with the LPN Class of 1986. She immediately began working for Dr. Ron Phillips, MD, where she spent twenty years caring for patients who quickly became friends. Nurse Nancy deeply loved her job and the people she served.

Before retiring in 2006, Nancy and Gary began taking extended winter trips to South Padre Island starting in 1989– sometimes staying for weeks at a time. After retirement, as soon as the crops were out, they would pack up and head south. They cherished their time there, especially visiting Progresso, Mexico, and forming lifelong “snowbird” friendships, as well as reconnecting with friends from Kirksville who also wintered at South Padre. Nancy and Gary loved exploring, taking car rides, and trying new restaurants together.

One of Nancy’s most treasured traditions was taking each grandchild to the Quincy Mall to shop for school clothes before kindergarten. After a full day of picking out outfits, the trip always ended with a stop at McDonald’s—something the grandkids looked forward to just as much as the shopping. Every visit finished with a fashion show at home, each grandchild proudly modeling their brand-new clothes.

Nancy was loved by so many and will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

Nancy’s wish was to be cremated, and a graveside service will be held later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Prough Cemetery or to Hospice of Northeast Missouri, and may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.