Gretchen Nance

Gretchen Pinker Nance, age 80, of Forest City, passed away Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the Oak Grove Healthcare Center.
Born June 5, 1936 in Franklin, New Hampshire, she was a daughter of the late Stephen Pinker and Olive Currier Pinker. Gretchen, along with her late husband, owned and operated Nance's Orchard Outlet in Lake Lure for many years. She was a devoted wife and mother and enjoyed gardening, growing roses, canning, sewing and working outdoors. She was of the Baptist Faith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by the love of her husband and love of her life, James Edward Nance Jr.; one daughter, Deborah Downey and a brother, Stephen Pinker.
Those left to cherish her memory include two sons, James Zachary Nance and wife, Robin of Ellenboro and James Kevin Nance of Henrietta; two brothers, Richard Pinker of Marion, NC and Brian Pinker and wife, Virginia of Zephyrhills, Florida. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Christopher Nance, Amanda Kay Nance, Jason Barnwell, Marsha Barnwell and Megan Nance and seven great-grandchildren, Kyle Nance, Alex Nance, Payton Nance, Jacob Barnwell, Wyatt Barnwell, Morgan Hooper, Karlie Fish, Stailey Bucholsky and Kastle Bucholsky.
The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 5, 2017 at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Reverend Ernie Cole officiating. Interment will follow in Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the funeral home.
Memorial donations are respectively requested to James Z. Nance, 135 Manis Drive, Ellenboro, NC 28040 to help defray funeral costs.