Nancy Jean Barclay passed away peacefully on June 16, 2026, surrounded by her family. Born in Painesville, Ohio in 1948, Nancy was married to her beloved husband, Tom, for more than 55 years. She graduated with a journalism degree from the University of South Carolina. Tom's work took them to live in many small towns, and Nancy quickly found her place in each community, whether through her work as a journalist, media developer, fundraiser, or community advocate and volunteer. If she was raising millions of dollars in support for the Children's Miracle Network, working to save an historic community site, or helping a community recover from disaster, Nancy found meaning in leaving the world better than she found it.

As an avid researcher, Nancy developed a detailed genealogy of her family's branches. Her work included trips to ancestral hometowns as far as Europe, scouring cemeteries and archives, and writing detailed narratives that told stories of her ancestors. Nancy's wonderful sense of humor has brought joy to generations of her family through unique gifts for special occasions, along with lessons on receiving every gesture with grace and kindness.

Nancy was beloved as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, great-aunt, cousin, friend, and dog mom. For them, she was a love, a comfort, an anchor, a cheerleader, and a champion who will be dearly missed and always in their hearts. She is survived by her husband, son Thom (Kathy), grandsons Marc of San Francisco and Chris of Washington, D.C., sisters Susan (Michael), Janet (Jerry), and her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Chet & Janet Doubledee and her sister Kate Wells.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice, 13 Haywood Office Park Suite 107, Waynesville, NC 28785 or a charity of your choice.

The care of Mrs. Barclay has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville