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Nancy Davis, 'always smiling'

NANCY B. Willoughby Davis turned into a bit of a ham when someone pointed a camera at her. A naturally cheerful, smiling woman, she took a good picture. And she enjoyed being on the other end of the camera, recording family activities for posterity.

NANCY B. Willoughby Davis turned into a bit of a ham when someone pointed a camera at her.

A naturally cheerful, smiling woman, she took a good picture. And she enjoyed being on the other end of the camera, recording family activities for posterity.

Nancy Davis, a 35-year employee of Colonial Penn Insurance Co., from which she retired with the title of manager, a strong family woman who liked to test her luck at the Atlantic City casinos and cruise the Caribbean with her husband, died Thursday of a heart attack brought on by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She was 62 and lived in Olney.

Nancy was born in Philadelphia, the middle child of the five children of Hazel and Robert Charles Willoughby. She grew up in Francisville, and graduated from William Penn High School.

She started at Colonial Penn as a data-entry clerk and worked her way up to a supervisory position. She retired in 2002.

Nancy also worked as a tax preparer for H&R Block out of her home.

"She was short of stature, but a very friendly, outgoing woman," said her son Reginald Willoughby. "She was always smiling."

When Nancy went to Atlantic City to visit the casinos she took along a natural lucky streak. "She did pretty well at the casinos," her son said.

Nancy married Willie Lamar Davis, a chef, on March 3, 1979. Because of his culinary skills, Willie did a lot of the cooking for family affairs.

"He taught me to cook," Reginald said. "The men in the family are the best cooks."

Willie retired as food production manager for Mercy Hospital.

Nancy and Willie loved to travel. They cruised the Caribbean, visited the Bahamas, and enjoyed going to Arizona, where Reginald lives in Yuma.

Basically, Nancy was a family-oriented woman, much loved by children and grandchildren.

Besides her husband and son, she is survived by two stepsons, Kenny and Keith Davis; a sister, Toni Willoughby; a brother, Alan Willoughby; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was predeceased by two brothers, Robert and Steven Willoughby.

Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at the Ray Funeral Home, 1525 W. Dauphin St. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Mt. Peace Cemetery, 31st Street and Lehigh Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the COPD Foundation, 2937 SW 27th St., Miami FL 33133.