Nancy Ratchford Friday

Dallas – Nancy Ratchford Friday, 84, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 26, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.

Nancy was born on April 8, 1938 in Gaston County to the late Brady W. Ratchford, Sr. and Sarah Robinson Ratchford. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joe Friday, Sr; and her brothers Robert and Gene Ratchford.

In the late 60’s her husband Joe, worked for Threads Incorporated in Gastonia. The company sent him and the family out west to open regional offices. The first stop was Dallas, Texas. The company would then move them to Little Rock, Arkansas and eventually the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. While Joe traveled, Nancy was busy raising their family. Nancy did a wonderful job raising four successful children, while holding down a full-time job.

Nancy appeared on the “Price is Right Show” in the early 60’s, with host Bill Cullen. She and Joe happened to be in New York City at a sales convention, and she along with several other wives from the convention, attended a taping of “The Price Is Right.” At that time, the audience put their names in a fishbowl, and different celebrity guests would pull a name from the bowl and play for that contestant. Nancy’s name was pulled, and a Broadway star was playing the game on her behalf. By the end of the game Nancy had won a Pulitzer Organ and a trip to Rome Italy. When it came time for the trip, Nancy was expecting their fourth child, Lou Ellen. Being about 6 months pregnant, Joe was nervous about the trip. So, they opted for their friend and gynecologist, Dr. Dorothy Glenn, to take the trip with her in case of any issues along the way. All went well and Joe stayed home with the other 3 children. Nancy was a NASCAR fan, loved to play bridge with many of her friends, and cheered heartily for her favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys! While living in Texas the family attended a Dallas Cowboy game at the Cotton Bowl stadium, and Nancy was hooked for life as a Cowboy fan. Once back in NC she did pull for the Panthers.

She enjoyed working in the yard, making Shrimp Creole (her specialty) and time with family and friends. Nancy was a survivor. She was a breast cancer survivor and then overcame late in life, a bout with Lymphoma.

She was a dedicated and faithful servant of the Lord. Her gift back to him was her talent of playing the church organ at various churches during her lifetime. She is survived by her son, Joe “Jody” Friday Jr. (Kelly); daughters, Kim Norwood (Major), Sandy Ann Hunter (Vince), Lou Ellen Cloninger (John); brother, Brady W. Ratchford, Jr.; sister, Margaret Addington; grandchildren, Stephen Major “Beau” Norwood, Jr. (Wendy), Abbey Norwood Blake (Jonathan), Lauren Ashley Norwood-Norman (Stephen), Shelby Elizabeth Friday, Drew Carlson, Reid Carlson, Jared Hunter (Samantha), Ryan Hunter, Tyler Clark (Ashley), and Justin Clark; great-grandchildren, Stephen Major “Tripp” Norwood, III, Addison Norwood, Ella Hunter, Madison, Savanna, Bentley, Ki, and Mark Clark, and Wyatt Humphries.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 30, 2023 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Dallas. The family will receive friends following the service. Interment will be private in the Friday Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Gaston Hospice, PO Box 3984, Gastonia, NC 28054.  

Condolences may be made online at www.withersandwhisenantfuneral.com

Withers and Whisenant Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2916 Union Road, Gastonia 704-864-5144 is serving the family.