Nancy Lee Havens

Nancy Lee Havens (known to many as “Gie”) passed away peacefully on October 15, 2025, in Tallahassee, Florida, surrounded by family and other caregivers.

Nancy Lee was born May 22, 1931, in Montclair, New Jersey, as the only child of Phoebe and Kirre Wiklund.. Upon graduation from high school, she achieved her nursing degree. She then married Donald Lester “Les” Havens, with whom she had three children.

In 1962, the Havens family moved to south Florida, where they lived until 1993 when they relocated to Navarre, Florida. In 1995, Les experienced a debilitating stroke. Nancy became his full-time caregiver for the next 11 years until his passing. She moved to Tallahassee in 2020 and lived with her daughter, Cindy, and then in an assisted living facility until her passing.

Nancy was a loving, generous, strong willed, woman who committed her life to caring for her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, extended family, and friends. She had an almost encyclopedic memory for birthdays of those she loved and enjoyed celebrating with a card or call.

Nancy was interested in the arts, dancing, singing, and playing piano from an early age and enjoying theater productions. Her Swedish heritage was an important part of her life, including a visit with relatives in Sweden and dancing to Swedish folk music with her father.

Nancy was supported by her Christian faith, reading her Bible and being an active member of several congregations. She was blessed by her participation in an “Emmaus Walk” retreat. While at Navarre Methodist Church, she was extensively involved in the creation and growth of the Church’s thrift store.

Nancy is survived by her son, Donald Lester “Donn” Havens, Jr. and his two children, Kirre and Lexi; Cynthia Jane “Cindy” Parry, her husband James “JP” Parry, and children David and wife Sarah, Andrew and children Jesson and Madison, Meredith and husband Drew Nix, James Coggin, his wife Sara, and children Summer, Tommy, and Les, and Hannah, husband Aaron Livingston, and son Cameron; and her son-in-law Patrick Hogan and his daughter Brianna and husband Chad Temple, their children Malin and Ellison, and his daughter Brittany.

Nancy was predeceased by her husband Les and daughter Christine.

Nancy’s cremains will be interred at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida, on November 17, 2025. A brief ceremony for family and friends will begin at 11:30 CST.