Nancy Morton Wiggins

Nancy (Lou) Morton Wiggins passed peacefully on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at age 76. She was born on May 31st, 1946 in Lecanto, Fl the youngest of four and the FIRST and only daughter of the late Muriel (Wheatley) and Albert Morton. She grew up in many places, but called Homosassa, FL her childhood home.

Nancy attended Young Harris Methodist College in Georgia and met her husband James E. Wiggins at Florida Southern Methodist College in Lakeland, FL where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Nancy and James married in 1968 and moved to his hometown of Winter Garden, FL. She served as a teacher of 6th, 4th, Reading, and Kindergarten at Dillard Street Elementary in Winter Garden for 34 years before retiring in 2004.

Nancy was an avid birder and enjoyed going on trips around the state but especially loved the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (Black Point Drive), Ft. Desoto Park, Dauphin Island, and the Lake Apopka North Shore Drive. Most of all, she loved Oakland Nature Preserve and the boardwalk out to the lake.

Nancy retired from teaching and she and Jim did what most do, they began traveling. It was on one of these trips to North Georgia in 2006 that she fell while hiking and fractured her spine, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Never one to be defeated, she made the most of her electric wheelchair and lived an active life for 15 years following the accident. She was known for greeting everyone she met and for giving rides to little ones (with a protective hand over the toggle!). Nancy was an active member of the Winter Garden Lion’s Club, the Orange County Retired Educators Association, and the First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden where she served in many roles, most memorable being her time with the United Methodist Women’s Biannual Rummage Sale.

The joy of her life came on September 9, 2011 when her one and only grandchild, Leya was born to Russ and Lana Wiggins. Nancy and her daughter, Jamie, went on an epic road trip (in a wheelchair accessible van) up the Eastern seaboard to finally see the baby in Seacaucus, NJ. Leya and her family moved to Florida in 2015 and Grandma wasted no time “teaching” her granddaughter all kinds of things including the wonders of nature and how to READ!

We thank the many people who have made such a difference in Nancy’s life over the years including her sister for life Shirley Boon, Private Nurse Brenda Karney, all her nurses through VITAS Hospice especially Morgan, Dr. Thomas Wentzell, and her amazing surgeon Dr. Michael Broom.

Nancy is survived by her husband of 54 years, James, and lives on in the hearts of her daughter Jamie, son Russ, daughter-in-law Lana, and her granddaughter Leya. Loved and missed by her nieces and nephews: Melvin Morton, Thomas Albert Morton, Thea Morton, and Marshall Morton, Sheila Hinson (Emory), Alli Wacaser (Terry), great nephews Corey Hinson (Della), Nathan Morton; great nieces Megan Wacaser, Kristen Barrett (Mike), Sabrina Morton; great-great nephew Colton Hinson; great-great nieces Reece and Halie Mae Hinson; Hope, Savannah, and Ellie Barrett. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her three brothers; Albert Lynn Morton, Marshall Thomas Morton (Rose), and James Gordon Morton (Joyce); her nephew Thomas Lynn Morton; her nieces Linda M. Cooper and Kay M. Ward.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Orange Audubon or by volunteering at your local elementary school. Nancy loved her birds and she loved her kids!

A time of Celebration and Remembrance will be held on Friday, February 17th, at 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden (125 N. Lakeview Ave, Winter Garden, FL, 34787; 407-656-1135, www.fumcwg.org). Please bring a covered dish and a story to share!