Nancy Crowson Raftery, 87, died Friday, December 13th. She was born and raised in Wilmington, DE, the daughter of the late Andrew Bickley and Rachel Eaton Ritter, on April 19, 1932. She graduated from Tower Hill School and went on to earn a B.A. in Biology from Wheaton College in Norton, MA.

She was married to Richard Crowson for 41 years. They moved 5 times and each place brought a new set of friends. Three years after Dick died, she married Edward Raftery, and they celebrated their 20th Anniversary this year.

She was devoted to the Presbyterian Church; she taught Sunday School, served as Deacon and three times as Elder.

Nancy's business career was diverse; she was a professional Girl Scout, a math teacher, a Pharmaceutical detailer and owned a Sir Speedy shop in Vero Beach with her husband. She was most passionate about her volunteer work: President of Women of Church and a Hospital Auxiliary; Board member of Vero Beach Country Club, The Council on Aging, Park Shores HOA and PZB for Indian River Shores; Red Cross, Meals on Wheels and Girl Scout volunteer.

Nancy's love for bridge began at age 11, when her parents taught her Culbertson. Party bridge was followed by duplicate bridge at the Vero Beach Bridge Center.

Rick Steves has nothing on Nancy, as she traveled to six continents. She instilled the love of travel in her grandchildren with personalized travel trips for each child.

Nancy tested the theory of Six Degrees of Separation on a daily basis and would meet and talk to anyone who came across her path.

Nancy is survived by her children Beth (Bill) Southworth and June (Scott) Davis both of Annapolis, MD., and five grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by 5 step children, William Raftery, Richard Raftery, Ann Raftery, Jay (Nancy) Raftery, Patrick Raftery and Elizabeth (Chuck) Cannon and 5 step grandchildren .

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 4th at 10:00 am at First Presbyterian Church Vero Beach and a Reception immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the VNA Hospice House-Vero Beach, 901 37th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960.