Obituary: Nancy Louise Houston Dabbs

Nancy Louise Houston Dabbs of Ocoee, Florida, passed away unexpectedly yet peacefully on May 29, 2021, at the age of 81, joining her loving husband.

Born in Newton, North Carolina, on Sept. 25, 1939, she led a selfless life of service to her church, community and family. Although Nancy suffered from late‑stage Alzheimer’s Disease and her memory had faded, she touched the lives of her family, friends and caregivers with her love that shone through the light in her beautiful blue eyes.

After graduating from Newton-Conover High School, in Newton, North Carolina, and Appalachian State Teachers College, in Boone, North Carolina, Nancy moved to Florida and began her teaching career at the original Ocoee High School. There, she met and married her husband, J. Lester Dabbs Jr., in 1962, and together they built a strong and loving family.

An integral part of the Ocoee community as both a teacher and member of Ocoee United Methodist Church (now Ocoee Oaks United Methodist Church), Nancy was dedicated to improving the lives of everyone she met. Nancy will be remembered for her impressive intelligence, sweet and caring nature, and her eternal love of ice cream.

Nancy is survived by her four children, Leslie Dabbs Allen (Patrick), Joanna Dabbs Butler (Kevin), Natalie Dabbs Hatch (Wally) and Jack Christian Dabbs II; and nine grandchildren, Calla Butler, Zachary Allen, Garrett Butler, Jacob Allen, Kelton Butler, Emily Allen, Caroline Allen, Delaney Hatch and Makenna Hatch.  Nancy is also survived by her siblings, Jerry Houston, Janet Wilson (Jim) and Pamela Kupetz (Bill); sisters-in-law, Jeannie Houston, Cathy Houston and Velva Graves; brother-in-law, Walter Dabbs (Virginia); many cousins, nieces and nephews and their children.

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years; parents, Dewey and Hazel Houston; brothers, Neil and Charles Houston; and two granddaughters, Susanna Hope Butler and Camryn Makenna Hatch. 

The family will be receiving visitors from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 3, 2021, at Loomis Funeral Home, 420 W. Main St., Apopka, Florida 32712. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 4, 2021, at the Ocoee Lake Shore Center, 125 North Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee, Florida 34761.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Alzheimer’s Association, www.act.alz.org; Smile Train, www.donate.smiletrain.org; or Sipe’s Orchard Home, www.sipesorchardhome.org.