Nancy Tozier Knox

Nancy Tozier Knox (12/29/1938 - 11/28/2020), 81, of Falmouth, ME and Barefoot Bay, FL, passed away peacefully on Saturday, 11/28/2020, after a long and brave battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family at her beloved Highland Lake.

Nancy Knox was born, Nancy Libby Tozier, in Bangor, ME on 12/29/1938 to Claude Hill Tozier and Barbara Crosby Libby Tozier. Nancy was pre-deceased by her father Claude Tozier (d. 1991), mother Barbara Tozier (d. 1970), Claude’s second wife Ruth (d. 1998), sister Shirley Huling (d. 2011), and eldest daughter, Theresa Casey of New Jersey (d. 2018) She is survived by her loving husband of 39 years, James Knox of Falmouth, ME, daughter Linda Diffenbacher and husband Jim of Dracut, MA, daughter Debra Semeraro and husband Tom of Groton MA, son Kevin McElearney and his wife Anne of Falmouth ME and her younger brother Jeffrey Tozier and his wife Carla of Brunswick ME. Nancy is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.

Nancy grew up in Portland ME, attended Deering High School and later graduated from Colby College in 1961. She settled in Burlington,MA where she raised her family with her first husband Richard McElearney (d. 1982). She worked at MA Hospital Association in Burlington MA as office manager and retired in 1998 from Emerson Hospital in Concord MA.

In the early 1980's Nancy met her best friend, Jim Knox. The two fell in love and married in 1981. When the children were grown and off to college, they began the next chapter of their lives in Littleton MA where they lived until their retirement to Barefoot Bay, Florida. They continued to “winter” in Florida and come back home to Maine in the spring.

In 1948 her father Claude acquired their beloved family camp he nicknamed "Tall Timbers.” Nancy and 5 generations have spent their summers on Highland Lake in Maine. 4th of July at the lake is the highlight of every summer. Family and friends gather for the annual cook out and picture on the camp stairs which she shared with pride. Large family dinners were always a favorite, watching the sun set over the lake on the front porch, sipping wine and listening to the loons while telling stories of yesteryear growing up on Highland Lake.

After the grandchildren started coming, Nancy and Jim took on their new roles as "Mimi" and "Bumpie". Nancy was a doting grandmother to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved each and every one of them dearly. Whether it was enjoying their time together at “camp” in Maine or visits down to Florida it was always an adventure with Mimi and Bumpie with a lot of laughs. There were always stories going around amongst the grandkids about something funny that Mimi said or did. She always took this “ribbing” in stride and was the first to laugh at her own antics.

One of Nancy's favorite pastimes was quilting. She would spend days meticulously crafting a quilt for a new grandchild, great-nephew or a dear friend going through a hard time. Each grandchild received a quilt upon birth and again upon graduation from high school. “can you make a quilt for…” was a request that she heard often and she was always up for the task. During the last few years she lost the majority of her eyesight but still managed to continue to quilt. She would refer to them as “Blind Lady’s Quilts” and they were always beautiful. Each quilt was a unique work of art and was infused with the personality of the recipient.

Nancy was a loving wife, mother, sister, daughter, grandmother, aunt, great-grandmother and friend. We will remember, with a smile, Nancy's humor, strength, wit, kind heart and contagious laugh. She will be forever missed by her loving family and devoted friends. We wish Nancy eternal peace with God and her dear parents, Claude and Barbara, her beloved sister Shirley and the rest of her departed loved ones.

No formal funeral services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Nancy's name to the Dempsey Center of Maine https://www.dempseycenter.org/give-back/