Nancy Lavon Cripe, age 71, of Bluffton, passed away Saturday morning, Sept. 9, 2023, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Nancy was born in Columbia City on Aug. 3, 1952, to Forrest M. and Eleanor (Woolley) Barney.  She married Daniel W. Cripe in Fort Wayne on July 19, 1980; he survives.

Nancy was a homemaker.  She loved animals and loved having the opportunity to stay at home to raise her children.  She had a fantastic voice and would sing for different events and at church.

In addition to her husband, Nancy is survived by two daughters, Karissa Cripe of Kansas and Joey Jones of Smithville, MO; two sons, Jared Cripe of Decatur and Forrest (Amanda) Cripe of Decatur; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; along with two sisters, Kay Schoeff of Warsaw and Janet Matson of California.

Aside from her parents, Nancy was preceded in death by her stepfather, Charles Rice.

Per Nancy's wishes, no public services are planned at this time.  Goodwin – Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel in Bluffton has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.