(From Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home)
Sadly, our beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, Nancy Joanna (Joan) Baty, 94, of Scooba and Gulfport, Mississippi, passed away after a fall on August 1, 2026, surrounded by her family.
Nancy was born on April 6, 1932, to Frank and Mary Virginia Wilson in Joplin, Missouri. She grew up during the Great Depression and always appreciated the smallest things in life. Her early experiences molded her into one of the strongest and most independent people you could ever meet or know.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Nancy and a close friend left Joplin by train, bound for Southern California. She found employment at Bank of America near Beverly Hills and loved sharing her experiences about the stars who frequented the bank. She kept the glowing reviews she received from BOA through all these years. One review excerpt noted "If you were to ask anyone in this branch who they thought might be a straight 5, Nancy's name would be the only one mentioned. When she goes on vacation, it is necessary to put two people doing her work. She is one of the people you read about but seldom have the opportunity to know." This review and many others exemplified her work ethic that would last a lifetime. Nancy was very intelligent and extremely hardworking, and her dedication never went unnoticed.
Nancy and her friends loved spending time on the Southern California beaches and riding horses along the coastal hills. It was there that she met a sailor, Billy Ray Baty, who was stationed in San Diego. They married on February 1, 1953, and welcomed their son, Brad, in 1958 in La Jolla, California.
About 1960, Bill and Nancy, along with Bill’s sister, Shirley Sue, and husband, John, made a cross-country trip to Bill and Sue’s hometown of Scooba, Mississippi, where they settled. There, Nancy and Bill welcomed three more children: Denise, Melissa, and Sharon.
Nancy lost her husband at the age of 42. With limited means but great determination, sacrifice, and love, she made sure her children had everything they needed. She often went without, worked hard throughout the week and on many weekends, and still found time each night to cook, sew, and help with homework (we can now safely admit that she greatly contributed to her children's school artwork). Although she was stretched thin, she managed to attend nearly every ballgame in which her children participated.
There wasn’t anything Nancy couldn’t fry, and everything she made was bursting with flavor. Everyone loved to eat at Mrs. Nancy’s house, where she always made people feel comfortable, welcomed, and loved. She accepted everyone and never passed judgment. Once you held a place in her heart, her love for you never wavered. She loved unconditionally, standing beside and supporting those she cared for through hardship and trials, to triumph and joy.
Nancy became a member of Scooba Baptist Church and dearly loved her church family. She enjoyed partnering with her sister-in-law to provide refreshments for Vacation Bible School and was known for bringing custard pies to the fellowship hall. Her faith and trust in the Lord to always provide gave her the fortitude to overcome any hardships. Some say she was made of steel.
As her children grew and began families of their own, Nancy devoted her time to being with them. She joined each of her children on many vacations, traveling to places such as the Bahamas, the Rocky Mountains, Lake Tahoe, the Oregon Coast, and beyond. In between family visits and vacations, she was always cross-stitching and reading books.
Her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild were the highlights of her later years. She never stopped smiling when they were around. Nancy kept her mind young by playing Sudoku and using painting apps on her tablet. She kept up with all current events and the news. She loved Fox and Friends and HGTV. Her favorite pastime was taking and receiving photographs. She dearly loved her photo printer and printed thousands of pictures, which she regularly mailed to family and friends, because she believed everyone should have printed photographs, not just digital versions. She loved and spoiled her 15 year old dog, Caesar. He was still her baby.
Nancy faithfully kept everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries on her calendar, and you could always count on receiving a birthday card from her.
Her lasting legacy was being the best mother and grandmother anyone could ever hope for—and so much more. God blessed us on earth with an amazingly strong and giving woman, and now she is home in heaven with her Lord and Savior. She will be missed greatly by everyone whose life she has touched.
Nancy is survived by her children, Denise (Kenny) and Sharon (John); her sister, Cindy (David); her brothers, Dick (Brenda) and Mike; nine grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Mary Virginia Wilson; husband, Billy Ray Baty; children, Bradley Baty and Melissa Mosley; brother, Jack Wilson; and sister, Patti Wilson; her brother-in-law, Van Baty; and sisters-in-law, Betty Lou Graham, Shirley Sue Harpole, Barbara Fay Suttle, and Mary Wilson.
The family extends heartfelt thanks for all the love, prayers, and support shown during this difficult time. Donations may be made to Scooba Baptist Church Memorial Fund or Benevolent Fund, P.O. Box 98, Scooba, MS 39358.
The Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 15, at 2:00 P.M. at Scooba Baptist Church. Following the service, friends and family are invited to a reception next door at the Fellowship Hall.
Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home, O'Neal Road, Gulfport, MS is honored to serve the family of Nancy Joanna Baty.
