Obituary for Nancy Jo Collins Swilley

Nancy Swilley

March 2, 1944 - September 6, 2021

Nancy Jo Collins Swilley passed away from heart complications in Gainesville, FL on the morning of September 6, 2021, at the age of 77.



The youngest of three girls, she was born in 1944 at Alachua General Hospital to Henry Mark and Vera Gainey Collins. She is preceded in death by her two sisters, Emogene Collins Moody and Geraldine Collins Truman. They spent their childhood a bit north of Gainesville, in Waldo and then Fairbanks.



She was a graduate of Gainesville High School, where she met her first husband. In 1964 they opened “Doug’s Dairy Twirl,” a local ice cream shop on 6th Street that boasted one of the first twin serve machines in the state of Florida. Eventually sold, the shop became an icon of Gainesville and still sparks fond memories for many local residents.



She is survived by her husband, Beryl H. Swilley, Jr.; her five children, Anthony Fackender, Timothy Fackender, Dawn Fackender Barge, Tad Fackender, and Kristy Fackender Moffat; her three step-sons, Thomas Swilley, Herbert Swilley, and Shelton Swilley; along with 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.



Nancy met Beryl at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office where they both worked. A dashing deputy in uniform, Beryl swept her off her feet and they were happily married for 33 years. She worked in the Records Department for the Sheriff’s Office from 1979-1989, then worked in Word Processing and the Superintendent’s office for the Alachua County School Board, retiring in 2006.

Nancy had a deep love for Jesus, and shared her piano-playing talents for His glory at church almost every Sunday and Wednesday for the past 40 years. She started playing the piano as a young girl, and her music was beautiful. She was an active member of Orange Heights Baptist Church for five years, and before that for 35 years at Eden Baptist Church in Hawthorne.

She thoroughly enjoyed gallavanting across the country with Beryl in their fifth wheel, exploring new places and visiting family and friends. An animal lover, she was extremely fond of her beloved cats, Sparky and Claire. While humble about it, she was an amazing cook and hostess for large family gatherings throughout the years. She was also an avid seamstress, having sewn more quilts than anyone can count. She’s supplied handmade aprons for most every waitress at Grannie’s Country Cookin’ in Starke, her favorite restaurant where she and Beryl spent many mornings socializing with friends.

Nancy will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 10, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Orange Heights Baptist Church with Pastor Aaron Morgan officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Dedan Cemetery in Brooker.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Heart Association,