Goss, Nancy Akers

Nancy Akers Goss, formerly of Floyd, Va., of Ormond Beach, Fla., (formerly of Forest Hills, N.Y.), died peacefully at the age of 82 on October 10, 2009, in Jamestown, N.Y. in the Lutheran Nursing Home near her brother’s home there.

Nancy was the greatgranddaughter of the Rev. John Kellog and Chloe Bigelow Harris whose lives were integrated in the history of the town and the people of Floyd and with the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church at Floyd Courthouse beginning in 1872. They also continued their mission ministry to the Choctaw in Red Cloud and Scotia, Nebraska, and with the founding and operation of the Oxford Academy in Floyd.

Nancy spent many happy hours with her great aunt, Susan Harris Hall at “‘Summertime”, Ma Sue’s residence in Floyd. Nancy was predeceased by her beloved husband, John P. Goss, of Huntington and Forest Hills, N.Y., whom she had married in 1967. They subsequently retired to Orlando and Ormond Beach, Fla.

She is survived by her stepchildren, Peter (Carol) and Edgar (Janet) Goss, of Red Hook and New York City, N.Y., and Cathy (Edward) Luwisch, of Ormond Beach, Fla. Nancy is also survived by her brother, John Kellog Harris; and sister-in-law, Katherine Akers, of Williamstown, Mass., and Chautauqua, N.Y., and their children, Susan Harris Akers and her husband, Richard Dowling, of Denville, N.J., John K. H. Akers Jr., of Denver, Colo., James and Mary Pat Akers, of Great Barrington, Mass., Richard and Stephanie Akers, of Florham Park, N.J.; and six greatnieces and nephews living in Denver, Great Barrington and Florham Park .

Nancy was born April 2, 1927 in Birmingham, Ala., to Arthur Kellog and Nancy Sports Akers and in 1937 moved with the family to New York City. She graduated from Mt. Holyoke in 1949, and earned a Masters in Library Science from Pratt institute in Brooklyn, N.Y.

In accord with her wishes, her ashes were interred in the Jacksonville Burial Grounds in Floyd and scattered in wild flowered meadows and at an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, whose inspiring vistas she always loved. A memorial service was held in November, 2009 in Williamstown, Mass., at St. John’s Episcopal Church. This is the location of Williams College, from which John Kellog Harris graduated in 1852 and is near Mt. Holyoke College from which Chloe Bigelow graduated prior to 1850 and from which Nancy Akers Goss graduated in 1949.

Funeral arrangements were handled by the Wood Funeral Home of Floyd.