Nancy Smedley Morrell

Nancy Smedley Morrell passed away peacefully at the Meadows of Seabury on February 6th, 2018. Nancy was pre-deceased by her beloved husband W. LeRoy “Roy” Morrell, Jr., and by her siblings Judith Smedley and Barry Rodman Smedley, and by her nephew Scott Smedley. She leaves behind a son, Glenn Smedley Morrell and his partner Tyler J. Gallon of Stratton, Maine, a daughter and son-in-law Laura and George V. Hicks of Coventry, Connecticut, two beloved grand-children, Andrew and Annabelle Hicks, her sister Patricia Turnbull of Maryland, and many nieces and nephews. Born on November 26th, 1934 in Oil City, Pennsylvania to Harry and Marie (née Dolby) Smedley, Nancy graduated as Valedictorian from Oil City High School in 1952. After earning her Associates degree from George Washington University, she worked as a medical technologist at Hartford Hospital until the birth of her son. In 1979 she graduated magna cum laude from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Biology. Nancy was a long-time resident of West Hartford, Connecticut where she was an active communicant of St. John’s Episcopal Church, serving as a member, and then director of the Alter Guild for 30 years. She was also a member of the Four Corner’s Study Club and the Town & County Club, and she was active with her sorority, Pi Beta Phi. With her husband she enjoyed skiing at Berkshire East in Charlemont, Massachusetts where they built a vacation home that has been the site of many happy family gatherings. Nancy was an avid skier and enjoyed skiing, fly-fishing and surfcasting with her husband throughout New England. In 1979 she moved to Athens, Greece with her husband Roy as he traveled in the Middle East for Siemens. In Greece, Nancy was active in the expatriate community, belonging to the American Club and the American Women’s Organization of Greece. She traveled extensively throughout Europe, Africa, and China. Nancy and Roy returned to their West Hartford home in 1987. Nancy loved flowers and gardening, and volunteered at the Elizabeth Park rose garden, but her true passion was her artwork. A talented artist in many mediums, her preferred medium was oil, and she created beautiful landscapes that focused on light and water. She was a member of the West Hartford Art League and the New Britain Museum of Art, participated in multiple exhibits, and received numerous awards from juried shows. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 17th at 11:00 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 679 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT with a reception to follow at the church. Burial at Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford will be private at a later date. Donations in Nancy’s memory can be made to the Meadows Staff Appreciation Fund, 400 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002 and to the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, West Hartford has care of arrangements. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.

Nancy Smedley Morrell

February 6, 2018