Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Nancy Joy-Hiatt—also known as Nanc, Sis, NC, and Momma Nancy—on February 20, 2025, in Bellingham, at the age of 66. Nancy is preceded in death by her father Rollin, and brother Jim. She leaves behind her mother Peggy, daughter Coty (Mike), son Tyler, many close friends, and several fur babies who will all miss her immensely.

Born on September 1, 1958, in Bellingham, Washington, on her parents’ second anniversary, she grew up loving the outdoors, making friends with humans and animals alike. Nancy graduated from Mt. Baker High School in 1976, with many fun stories that she continued to share her entire life. She made lasting bonds wherever she went—school, work, camping trips, trail rides, motorcycle adventures, and so many more. She could connect with anyone and was always willing to support those she cared about, dropping everything when someone needed her. As a mother, Nancy’s love for her two children—Coty and Tyler—was unwavering. She was incredibly proud of them, often sharing stories and pictures at any opportunity. Many beyond her own kids considered her some variation of “mom,” and she took immense pride in each of their successes and journeys as well. In her early thirties, Nancy found her calling in Traffic Control. Her career spanned nearly three decades, where her natural leadership brought her to the title of Traffic Control Manager, and the wake of her impact is still felt on the industry today. Nancy found peace in nature and her home was always filled with plants. She was a wizard in the kitchen, creating meals that were as unique as she was—though you were lucky if you could ever get her to write down a recipe.

Nancy will be remembered as a big presence in a tiny package who fiercely loved and supported those around her. As a parting thought, probably with a raised eyebrow, Nancy would likely offer a simple, “Love you, bye.”

A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Shuksan Golf Course from 1-4pm. Please join us for an afternoon of fond memories and refreshments. In memory of Nancy, please consider phoning a friend, cuddling an animal, or adding something beautiful to your garden.