Obituary of Nancy Ruth Longacre

Nancy Ruth Longacre passed away peacefully at the age of 95 on October 4, 2022 at her home at MacKenzie Place in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with her children at her side. 

Nancy was born on March 29, 1927 in Midland, Michigan, the youngest of three children of Dr. William R. and Helen Collings. Nancy graduated in 1949 from Denison University in Granville, Ohio with a degree in history, where she met her first husband David Skeggs, an art student.

Following Dave’s graduation with masters of fine arts at the University of Iowa, they moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where Dave became the director of the Sioux City Art Center. They later settled in Bath, Ohio, eventually opening a home furnishings and interior design business called Far Corners. They had five children, Jeffrey, Amy, Gary, and twins Polly and Peter.  

Dave died suddenly in early 1973. While managing Far Corners following Dave’s passing, Nancy met and later married Richard (Dick) Longacre. It was during a golfing vacation to the Broadmoor Hotel that they fell in love with Colorado Springs, Colorado. They moved to the Springs in 1979 along with Nancy’s then high-school-age children, Polly and Peter, and quickly immersed themselves in playing golf and tennis as well attending cultural events at the Fine Arts Center and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. Nancy also delivered for Meals on Wheels for many years and attended First Presbyterian Church. 

Nancy and Dick lived in three different homes in Upper Skyway and the Broadmoor areas. Dick passed away in 2006 and Nancy continued to live by herself before moving to MacKenzie Place in 2018. She soon became engaged in her new life and enjoyed reconnecting with longtime friends, meeting other residents and participating in activities.

She was predeceased by her parents; brother, Bud; sister, Janet; husbands, David, and Dick; son, Jeffrey; and daughter, Amy. She is survived by her remaining children, Gary Skeggs and his wife Susan Griffin of New York City; Peter Skeggs and his wife Beth Hutchins of Portland, Oregon; and Polly Gillen of Colorado Springs, Colorado; stepdaughter, Judy Longacre of Canton, Ohio; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. 

A Celebration of Life was held at MacKenzie Place in early November and a private burial service will be held in Midland, Michigan later this year. Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, https://csphilharmonic.org/donation/