Nancy France Tuft's Obituary
Nancy Tuft, 78, passed away on 12/19/2020, Oakland, California.
Nancy Frances Tuft passed away December 19, 2020 at the age of 78 after several years of declining
health. Born in Oakland, CA to James E. and Esther Tuft, she was raised on the family dairy in El Nido, CA with her three sisters Marilyn, Mary Jane, and Peggy (Margaret). Growing up she loved the ranch and was instrumental in the everyday operation. Nancy was genuinely a free spirit and loved to travel the world and explore new places.
Nancy graduated from The College of the Holy Names with a B.A. in Sociology. She went into the Peace Corp in 1964 and spent two years in Venezuela. When she returned to the U.S., she worked as a social worker in the Mission District in San Francisco, CA. After her work there she returned to college and received a Master’s Degree in Education. She taught in various schools in the U.S. and abroad at the American School of Milan, Italy and the American School of Kinshasa, Africa. Nancy spent approximately 22 years as a teacher, could converse fluently in Spanish and Italian, lived in the bay area off and on for several years.
She was an avid team roper and was one of the few women in the late 1950’s who held a RCA (PRCA now) contestant card. She loved Yosemite National Park and made frequent trips to enjoy the beautiful scenery. She enjoyed biking, hiking, skiing, kayaking, tennis, reading, traveling and a good cheeseburger with fries. She did not like board games or card games but would begrudgingly join in if we needed another player. Nancy always put her whole heart and soul into any endeavor she undertook. She is now free, with the Lord and with her friends and family who have gone on before.
She is survived by her sisters Marilyn Tuft-Holtz (Howard, deceased), Mary Jane Erickson (Eric), Nephews: Bob Erickson (Suzy), Michael Turrill (Dounia), Brendan Turrill, Everett Erickson (Nicole), Tom
Erickson (Megan), niece Shannon Erickson and 14 great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Peggy (Margaret) Tuft.
Grave side Services will be at the Merced District Cemetery, 1300 B Street, Merced, CA at a date and time to be determined. Arrangements are through Whitton Family Funeral Service, 740 W. 19th St., Merced, CA 95340. Phone number 209-384-1119 if anyone wants to send flowers.
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