Nancy Ann Shane Hall – Into the Lord’s Care

Nancy Ann Shane Hall passed away on January 12, 2025 at the age of 95. She lived a long and fulfilling life, enriched by music, enduring friendships, a thirst for learning and new experiences, and a deep love for her family. 

Nancy was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and grew up in several towns across the state. She was the daughter of Sarah Lilian Rohrer Shane and Samuel Shane, a minister and national leader in the Presbyterian Church.

Growing up during the Great Depression and World War II, Nancy cultivated a strong sense of creativity and resourcefulness qualities that later proved invaluable as she and her husband Percy raised five children on a schoolteacher’s salary.

As a youth, Nancy s favorite subjects were math and music, and she had a passion for reading. She participated in many musical groups, and despite moving several times due to her father’s pastoral duties, she graduated as Valedictorian of her high school class. Nancy went on to attend Westminster College (PA), graduating Summa Cum Laude with a degree in psychology. She also studied music and learned to play the pipe organ. While at Westminster, Nancy met the love of her life, Percy Foster Hall, an Army veteran recently returned from serving in Germany. The couple were happily married for 68 years.

Moving to Mansfield Ohio in 1952, Nancy became the organist for the Linden Road Presbyterian Church. Little did she know that she would hold that position for over 65 years, providing the musical backdrop for countless services, weddings, funerals, and special events. Her commitment to the church extended beyond her role as an organist, as she was actively involved in many church activities and initiatives, always ready to lend a helping hand.

Once their kids left the nest, Nancy and Percy unleashed their pent-up travel bug, embarking on a dizzying stint of globetrotting in which they visited 40 countries and almost every state in the USA. Some of their expeditions were with performing groups such as the Westminster College Alumni Choir, with which they both sang, and Nancy accompanied the choir on organ in many legendary spaces including the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris and St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. They also toured Sweden where Nancy accompanied the Rocky Hill Congregational Church choir, of which her son David and his wife Gail were members. Other tours were cultural or educational, such as Elderhostels where they studied art, history, and even marine biology. They both enjoyed making new friends, exploring the world and gaining new knowledge and skills. 

Nancy was always eager to help, serving her community and volunteering in many capacities over the years, including:

• Serving as the Presiding Judge of Elections for her voting precinct in Mansfield,
• Providing administrative support in the Mansfield Symphony office
• Supporting the YMCA by providing live music for exercise classes
• Providing comfort to patients and their families as chapel organist for Mansfield General Hospital.

For almost 50 years Nancy was an active member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), a nonpartisan organization that works for gender equity and economic security for women and girls. She served for years as chairperson of their annual used book sale (a massive undertaking to raise scholarship funds) and also served as newsletter editor. The AAUW honored Nancy as Woman of the Year in 1998 and again in 2016 for her countless hours of service and dedication.

Nancy also had a legendary reputation as a piano accompanist, supporting hundreds of Mansfield area music students for decades. Local teachers valued her special skills at supporting a student soloist regardless of their level of expertise. 

An avid gardener, Nancy frequently won prizes for her vegetables and flowers. She was especially proud when one of her vegetables won “best in show” at the Kingwood Center Garden Show.

Above all, Nancy was a wonderful partner to Percy and a devoted mother. As parents, the couple lovingly encouraged excellence, creativity and curiosity in pursuing new ideas and interests. The family home they created and nurtured was always a flurry of imagination, music and laughter. 

Nancy will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by her family and the many people whose lives she enriched for her kindness, intelligence, clever wit, and her delicious peach blueberry pies!

Nancy was predeceased by her husband Percy and her brother Sam. She is survived by her sister Sarah and brother-in-law Ken Weber of North Wales, PA; sister-in-law Roxanne Shane of West Grove, PA; five children and their spouses: David and Gail Hall of West Hartford, CT; John and Audrey Hall of Columbus, OH; Marcia Henry Liebenow and Mark Liebenow of Peoria, IL; Barry and Beth Hall of Westborough, MA; and Kathy and Jim LeFevre of South Lyon, MI; her nine grandchildren and their spouses: Jason and Paige Hall of Reading, MA; Kevin and Alyssa Hall of Scotch Plains, NJ; Amanda and Franklin Rodriguez of Columbus, OH; Melody and Paul Mercieca of West Islip, NY; Melissa Hall of Columbus, OH; Avery Hall of South Burlington, VT; John LeFevre of Boulder, CO; Adam LeFevre of Leighton, IA; and Jack LeFevre of Long Beach, CA; and her four great grandchildren: Charlie, Jonah and Parker Hall, and Cole Mercieca. Nancy’s passion for music lives on in her offspring, all of whom are active in music, some professionally and others for fun.

Nancy’s and Percy’s ashes will be interred together at Chautauqua Park Memorial Garden in Lakeside, Ohio, a treasured family vacation retreat on Lake Erie that Nancy enjoyed since 1944. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Nancy’s memory to the Lakeside Chautauqua Foundation, 236 Walnut Ave., Lakeside, OH 43440. Please indicate that your gift is in memory of Nancy Hall.

If you wish to share a memory or leave comments, please visit the funeral home’s obituary page.