Nancy Moore Johnston

Mills River- Nancy Moore Johnston, 75, of Mills River, passed peacefully on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

The youngest of 6 siblings (2 sisters and 3 brothers) born to Leonard and Ann Moore, Nancy was fiercely loyal to a family that continued to grow throughout her life.

She graduated from West Henderson High School in 1969, and typically remained close to home except for a short time in Kansas where her first husband, Tim, was stationed while serving in the Army.

After returning home she began a career in banking; her strong home-town roots made her a natural with the locals, knowing most by name and always welcoming them with a genuine and beautiful smile.

She retired from banking to live the life of a farmer’s wife, marrying Billy in 1990.

With a contagious laugh and outgoing personality, she made friends easily and fit in anywhere. When her mother-in-law was no longer able to drive herself to her bowling league, Nancy drove her and became friends with the others so quickly that she eventually joined the league herself and continued to bowl and grow those friendships for many years.

She loved traveling around the country and seeing new things, spending time at the beach and singing. Her natural talent for singing led her to join a local group of musicians, singing bluegrass and gospel songs at many churches and events across western North Carolina.

But above all she loved spending time with her family.

Her family will miss her ability to make everyone laugh at silly little things, so much so that others undoubtedly looked on and thought “what’s wrong with them??”. Of course, if you knew her and her brothers & sisters, you knew exactly what was happening and probably got caught up in the laughter also.

As an irreplaceable wife, mother, sister, and friend she will be greatly missed.

Nancy is survived by her loving husband, William F. “Billy” Johnston; a son, Tim Drake (Kim Freeman) of Fletcher; two daughters, Wendy Griffin (Brian) of Charlotte, NC and Kimberly Cabe (Chad) of Etowah; two sisters, Doris Hawkins of Hendersonville and Delores Wright of Mills River; two brothers, Wallace Moore of Mills River and Gary Moore of Averys Creek as well as seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Nancy’s Life will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, March 29, 2026 at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home following the service.

Because of Nancy’s love for children, in lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider making a donation in Nancy’s memory to the Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County.