Nancy Lee Hobbs

Early Sunday morning May 18, 2025, the Lord welcomed Nancy Lee Hobbs home. She passed peacefully, surrounded by her family, comforted by love and faith. She was born March 9, 1945, in Anna, Il., daughter of George and Clara Kenney Livesay. Nancy Hobbs was the heart of five generations. A loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother who filled every role with warmth, grace, and an unmistakable spark. She made a home full of laughter and love on 30 acres in Cape Girardeau, where her family grew and gathered for decades. Married to her beloved husband, Louis Boyd "Lou" Hobbs, Nancy was his steadfast partner in life. While Lou became known for his music, Nancy was the rhythm behind the scenes-quietly strong, endlessly supportive, and full of life. Lou preceded her in death on September 20, 2007. Nancy raised five daughters: Ruby, Carmen, Khristy, Melissa, and Nancy, each a reflection of her resilience, humor, and deep love for family. She was also the proud grandmother of 12 grandchildren, who knew her not only as Granny but as a fierce competitor at games, a master storyteller, and the reigning queen of surprises. She had a legendary sense of humor. Whether donning a gorilla suit to a family gathering or crafting jaw-dropping Halloween costumes, Nancy brought joy wherever she went. She never met a costume she couldn't improve or a grandkid she couldn't (lovingly) outmatch at cards or video games-though she always insisted she was "just lucky." Nancy was equally at home in the kitchen or near a fishing hole-both places where she worked her magic with a knife in hand. Armed with her trusty "watermelon" lure, she could out-fish just about anyone, then return home to turn her catch, or anything else for that matter, into a meal that brought the whole family to the table. Her kitchen was a place of comfort, laughter, and second helpings, where stories were shared as freely as the mashed potatoes. Above all, Nancy was a woman of faith. A devoted member of New Bethel Baptist Church, she lived her life with kindness, conviction, and an unwavering love for the Lord. Her legacy is one of joy, strength, and spirited devotion-a life fully, beautifully, and memorably lived. Survivors include two sisters, Katie Carver of McClure, Il., and Patty Ferguson of Dongola, Il.; five daughters, Ruby (Joe) Voshage, Carmen (Doug) McNeely, Khristy (Gerald) Abernathy, Melissa (Travis) Hoehne, and Nan (Brandon) Blattel, all of Jackson, Mo.; eleven grandchildren, Tyler (Nikki) McNeely, Drue McNeely, Whitney (J.T.) Payne, Shane (Jeanette) Voshage, Nick (Annah) Voshage, Zachery (Shelby) Hoehne, Sydney Hoehne, Thomas Abernathy, Claire Abernathy, Boyd Blattel, and Piper Blattel; great-grandchildren Jayla Smith, Titus McNeely, Tatum McNeely, Camden Payne, Easton Payne, Gatlin Payne, Madalyn Smith, Josie McNeely, Kaysha Voshage, Briley Voshage, Miles Voshage, Remi Voshage, and Tilley Voshage; and great-great-grandchild Eliyah Norville. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; four brothers, Ben, Wayne, Jim, and Bob Livesay; five sisters, Dot Easton, Bonnie Penrod, Betty Knight, Shirley Gaines, and Linda Brown; and one grandchild, Dustin Voshage. Visitation will be 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Thursday, May 22, 2025 at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Funeral service will follow at 12:00 pm Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Donny Ford officiating. Burial will be at Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Pallbearers will be Tyler and Drue McNeely, Whitney Payne, Shane and Nick Voshage, Zachery and Sydney Hoehne, Claire and Thomas Abernathy, Boyd and Piper Blattel. Memorials may be made to Care Portal (put Southeast Missouri in the memo line). Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com

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Nancy Lee Hobbs

March 9, 1945 - May 18, 2025