WEST GARDINER – Nancy Gail (Morse) Cleaves, 82, of West Gardiner, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family, on Sept. 27, 2022. Born in Salem, Mass. she was the daughter of the late George and Esther (Gates) Morse.

Nancy is survived by her loving husband, James Cleaves, with whom she shared a lifetime of happiness.

Nancy was a graduate of Beverly High School class of 1958. After, she attended the Chandler School for Woman in Boston, Mass. and graduated in 1960. On St. Patrick’s Day, in 1962, Nancy met the love of her life, James Cleaves, in Boston, Mass. They married in 1965 and settled in Beverly, Mass. to raise their three daughters. In August they celebrated 57 years.

As a teenager Nancy began her career at her uncle’s business, Sterling Insurance, in Beverly, Mass. and retired from there some 50 years later. She made lifelong friendships with clients and colleagues.

Nancy and Jim enjoyed travelling to various locations during their marriage, including Bermuda, Mexico and the Caribbean, with family and friends, during the winter months.

In the summer, Nancy, Jim and the girls could be found on West Beach in Beverly Farms or Lake Cobbosseecontee, in West Gardiner. Upon retirement, Nancy and Jim built a year-round home at their “happy place” on the lake “Camp Qwitchurbitchin.” They loved nothing better than opening their “camp” to family and friends with the motto they lived everyday, “Friends and family are always welcome; our house wouldn’t be a home without them.” As much as they loved their lake house, they equally loved their winters on Marco Island, Fla. They were lucky to spend 15 winters there creating friendships that will last a lifetime. Nancy was always a social butterfly, happy hour attendee and proud original member of the Red Cup Club.

Nancy was blessed with a wide circle of friends, but there was nobody she would rather spend time with than Jim, her daughters and grandchildren. Her family was her greatest joy. She made a point to talk to her daughters daily, to receive updates on all the family news and then offer her opinion, even though it was not always sought, lol. We will miss her unwavering love, support and guidance that she has provided throughout our lives. Nancy was our biggest cheerleader.

In addition to her husband, James, Nancy is survived by her three daughters, Debra DeGrenier and her husband, Daniel, of Beverly, Mass., Julie Ford and her husband, Malcolm, of Milton, N.H. and Joanne Niehoff, of Port Washington, Wis.; grandchildren Alexandra Costin and her husband, Patrick, of Lebanon, Cassandra Ford, of Somersworth, N.H., Bailey DeGrenier and Shelby DeGrenier, of Beverly, Mass., Dylan Niehoff, Cameron Niehoff and Brody Niehoff, of Port Washington, Wis.; great-grandson, Kaden Costin of Lebanon; sister-in-law, Ellen Raffa and her husband, Mike, of Warren, R.I.; and many nieces and nephews. Nancy was predeceased by her two brothers, George and Richard Morse; in-laws Ezra Cleaves, Mary Cleaves, Elizabeth Scatterday, David Scatterday and Charles Cleaves.

Nancy’s graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 11 a.m., at North Beverly Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.

Arrangements by Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot St., Beverly, Mass. Information, directions, condolences at http://www.campbellfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nancy’s name to

Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed,

P.O. Box 206

East Winthrop, ME 04343

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