Nancy Latham Ferrar

Nancy Latham Ferrar, 94, of Traverse City passed away July 4, 2017. Nancy was born on February 21, 1923 in Duluth, MN, daughter of Arthur Mead Latham and Ethel Stratton Latham. She married George D. Ferrar on June 17, 1951 in Pasadena, CA. He preceded her in death on October 13, 1992. Nancy lived in California and Maryland before moving to Traverse City in 1964. She attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, OH (1941-1943). She then joined the US Marine Corps Womens Reserve. As a corporal, she served as a classification specialist at Camp Lejeune, NC and MCB, San Diego, CA (1943-1945). She studied physical therapy at University of California, Berkeley and U.C. Medical Center, San Francisco, CA (1946-1948). She received a Bachelor of Science degree at the U.C. Berkeley. Her June 1948 U.C. Berkeley graduation ceremony had the largest graduating class in the US, including GI’s returning from WWII. President Harry Truman was the main speaker at that ceremony. As a physical therapist, Nancy worked in California, Washington D.C., Maryland, Traverse City and Kalkaska. Nancy had been a volunteer at Camp Roy-El, a Probation Monitor, Learning Partner, camp counselor, Girl Scout Leader and swimming instructor for physically-challenged and adults with multiple sclerosis. She guided blind cross-country skiers for the Ski For Light International program. She participated in several Rotary Minstrel shows. Nancy loved nature, traveling, dancing, and outdoor sports especially Alpine and Nordic skiing, swimming, hiking and camping. She swam the two-mile event in the Pacific Ocean at LaJolla, CA in 1945, 1946 and 1947. She skied the VASA twice. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Robert Latham, Mary DePue, Donald Latham, David Latham, Elizabeth Billman, Nancy’s twin, Jane DeKlyn and Alice Dougall. Nancy is survived by her children Carol Vetter, Jane (Ralph) Geller, George C. Ferrar, and Athena (James) Schumacher, and her granddaughters Kristin (Dave) Cote and Lisa (Scott) Hughes, and her great grandchildren Jake and Jimmy Hughes, and Sarah Ann and Chase Cote. She loved her family, relatives and friends dearly. And she was dearly loved. The memorial service celebrating Nancy’s life will take place at 3:00 pm at the First Congregational Church on Sunday August 13, 2017. Memorials may be directed to the Tree of Life Ministries, Caye Caulker, Belize; to the Boardman River Nature Center or to the First Congregational Church. Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your memories with the family. The family is being cared for by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.

Nancy Latham Ferrar

February 21, 1923 - July 4, 2017