Nancy Sue Russell

Our beloved mother and grandmother Nancy Sue Russell finished her journey on October 4,
2022. She was born on 6/6/1947 to Cecil Russell and Hazel Henry Russell in Carrollton,
Missouri. As a child, Nancy lived in various locations in central Missouri, including Marceline and
Mike; where her dad ran filling stations and the family once lived in an old schoolhouse, where
her bedroom was the stage and she wrote on the chalkboard from bed.
She had a varied early career life, including being a cook on a riverboat on the Mississippi River,
tending bar and being a personal assistant. . She earned her AA from Frontier College in
Fairfield, IL and her BS from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in Dietetics. She later
completed her Registered Dietitian (RD) certification. After college, she worked in the Illinois
prison system before returning to Missouri and working in a local WIC office in Independence
and later taking on her RD role with the state in Poplar Bluff. She oversaw numerous the local
WIC offices and was not fond of all the travel. While there, she once earned a prize for hula
hooping around her neck. After retirement, she enjoyed crafts, taking care of her dogs and
spending time with her neighbors and staying home.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Betty McCollum. She is survived by
her children Celia Waddell (Jeff) and Jules Warner, four grandchildren: Audra Chandler, Mercer
Waddell, Judd Warner and Joshua Dawn and two great grandchildren.
The family will be hosting a private service in Washington. Condolences may be sent to
celia.waddell@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to: Hearts For
Rescue in Poplar Bluff https://heartsforrescue.rescuegroups.org/ or your chosen charity. Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services is proud to serve the family of Nancy Russell. Online condolences can be made at www.cwrfcs.com