“Just one life has recently passed. Only what was done for Christ will last”
Mrs. Nancy Ann Guignet West Sisk Young, 91, passed away on March 31, 2023. She was born on February 23, 1932 at Silvercross Hospital in Joliet, Illinois to Roy Francis Guignet of Chicago, IL and Ethel Davis Guignet of Milwaukee, WI.
Nancy is predeceased by her parents; a brother, Robert D. Guignet; a sister, Carolyn G. Holt; step-father, Arthur F. Flory; and husbands, Edward A. West, Roy J. Sisk, Sam L. Young.
Nancy lived in 13 states in her lifetime. She graduated from Lake Worth High School in Lake Worth, Florida, where she received six scholarships. Five for voice and one for journalism and high honors. She also attended Wisconsin State University. She was employed after college by the FBI of Washington, DC. While there, she was accepted into the Mount Vernon Choir under direction of R. Dean Shure who later directed the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Nancy was a veteran of the US Navy, where she served at a Corpsman (Dental Hygienist) during the Korean War. Upon moving to North Carolina, she was employed by the Yadkin County Cooperative Extension Service for 18 years from which she retired from in 1992. She was active in many community services. These included being the community director for United Way, a Red Cross volunteer, Little League, Indian Guides, Boy and Girl Scouts, Homeroom mother, trained and showed horses, Sunday School teacher, Superintendent of Sunday School, and was in the church choir. She was charter member of both Rainbow Girls (daughters of Mason/Shriners/ Eastern Star) and Women in Service to America and is listed on their monument in Washington DC. Nancy was a member of multiple things. She was a member of WAVES National, Beta Kappa & Beta Sigma Phi and held all offices including president. She was a member of Eagles and Silver Springs, Florida, and American Legion. She was also a member of Unit 99 Ocala of Women in Volunteer Service of America. In Yadkin County she served as president of the Surry-Yadkin Mental Health Association. She was district president and NC Vice President for Administrative Assistants of Extension Service. Lastly, she was a member of NC Retired Government Association. She retired and moved to North Carolina and did the book work for the NC Tobacco Board of Trade for 8 years.
She is survived by her daughters, Rene West Foland (Donnie) of Citra, Florida, and Susan T. West of Yadkinville, North Carolina; a son, Robert E. West of Winter Park, Florida; six grandchildren, Ryan J. Cottrell of Charlotte, North Carolina, Michael and Dylan West of Florida, Montana Cowan or King, North Carolina, Dakota Cowan of New York and Taylor Foland of Florida; three step-grandchildren, Anthony, Maddi and Madelin Allred (Brandon); great-grandchildren, Maximus, Michael Jr. Marilyn, Lila, Payton, Jones II, and Brantley.