GUYSVILLE, Ohio –– Nancy Marie Bartlett, 87, of Guysville, Ohio, passed away after an illness Friday, January 23, 2026, at O’Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens. She spent her final days surrounded by her family. Nancy was born July 22, 1938 in Mineral, the daughter of the late John F. and Gladys I. Davis (née Brooks).
It is not possible for us to do her justice in the space we have, but we’ll do our best. She married Virgil Harlan Bartlett December 31, 1956. They raised five children together. Nancy loved her children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews. She was a singular and fierce woman, and a person of deep conviction. She would have fought anyone or anything for her family (and did).
Nancy was known for her one-liners. These include: “that looks like mud on a white rooster” and “nuttier than squirrel poop.” (There are more we weren’t allowed to print –– ask us about them later).
Nancy graduated from Chauncey Dover High School. She was a member of the National Honor Society. She worked various jobs including Cliff’s supermarket, C&E groceries, Lookoff’s, Card Corner, Joann Fabrics, Altman’s and retired from T.S. Trim. However, her favorite job was at Dairy Queen where she had the privilege of training Larry Young who went on to bless Athens with Larry’s Dawg House. She showed him how to make the swirl on top of your ice cream cone.
Prior to her retirement from cooking, she was known for making the best blackberry cobbler around.
Nancy was an avid fan of soap operas, her favorite being The Days of our Lives. She also enjoyed the Food Network, the Hallmark Channel, and anything on CNN. While she did not partake of alcohol, she did know how to party, and she even enjoyed the occasional motorcycle ride.
Even in her final days, Nancy took the time to make her family laugh. There was sorrow, yes, but also laughter and joy. She was our mother, our grandmother, our sister, and our aunt. We were privileged beyond words to have her. The memories we made with her will live in our hearts forever. We will miss her forever. We will love her forever.
Nancy is survived by her husband of 69 years, Virgil; her children, Jon & Carla Bartlett, Joni & Kevin McCune, Gene Bartlett, Jamie & Andrea Jo Bartlett and Shelley & Craig McClain; We would also like to thank Jeanne Auflick-Lucas for her unwavering support, care, and love for Mom and Grandma over the last several months.
There are no words to describe our appreciation and we consider her part of our family; her grandchildren, Jason McCune & Blake Williams, Roger & Ashley McCune, Jon Micheal Bartlett, Brittany & Mary Blair, Steven McClain & Brittany Clark, Kayla & Shane Stroh, Alex & Sammie Bartlett, Jamie & Lauren Bartlett and Dalton Bartlett; her great grandchildren, Alyssa and Kyle Howard, Wyatt McCune, Colton McCune, Rylee McCune, Gage Bartlett, Beau Bartlett, Lane Bartlett, Reid Blair, Waylon Bartlett, Willie Bartlett and Greyson McCune; a great, great granddaughter, Eleanor Howard; her siblings, Linda & Paul (deceased) Cunningham and Dwight & Judy Davis; Sisters in Law & Brothers In Law, Delmar & Mildred Bartlett (deceased), Roberta & Gerald Buckley (deceased), Charlotte Stephenson (deceased), Bernard & Doris Bartlett (deceased), Glenn & Norma Bartlett (deceased), Wayne & Chris Bartlett (deceased), Richard & Edna Bartlett (deceased) and Carol & Bob (deceased) Congrove; her nieces & nephews, Nancy Pruitt (deceased), Joyce LaRochelle (deceased), David Bartlett, Charlotte Altmaier (deceased), Connie Kincaid, Bill Buckley, Linda Wells, Ronnie Stephenson (deceased), Janet Smith (deceased), Beverly Skidmore, Dan Bartlett, Glenna McReynolds (deceased), Kenny Bartlett, Sherry Bartlett, Charles Richard Bartlett (deceased), Sue Jago, Anita Bartlett, Tony Congrove, Lisa Johnson, Diana Boyer, Denise Cunningham, Sandy Pugh, Gary Cunningham, Karen Cunningham (deceased), Danny Cunningham, Tony Davis, Greg Davis and Tammy Dilley; In addition, Nancy and Virgil served as foster parents for many years, opening their homes to many children.
Funeral service will be conducted 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, with her grandchildren, Alex Bartlett and Brittany Blair, officiating. Burial will be in Graham’s Chapel Cemetery, Lodi Township. Friends may call 11 a.m. Saturday until time of service at the funeral home.
Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.
