Nancy Bentley Scholls, age 90, of Pensacola, was a proud native of Texas where she was raised in a series of small towns by her parents, Jim and Margie Bentley.

She graduated from Texas A&I (now Texas A & M University - Kingsville) where she met her future husband and best friend, Ed Scholls. They wed on June 2, 1954, following their graduation. They briefly lived in Houston before receiving a transfer to New Orleans where they happily resided until 1970, at which time a business opportunity brought them to Pensacola where they lived until their respective deaths.

Nancy was a devoted wife, mother, and teacher. She and Ed raised four children, and their inside joke as to the 'secret' of their lasting marriage of 51 years was "Whoever left first had to take the kids!" She taught at B.T. Washington High School, St. Paul's Elementary School, and Sacred Heart Elementary School. She was a long-time member of St. Michael's Basilica where (at various times) she was active in the Ladies Sodality and the church choir. She loved to play her piano which was gifted to her by her husband, Ed.

Nancy was dedicated to her sweetheart, Ed, and she spent many years caring for him following his stroke. Our parents effectively modeled what it meant to live in a Christ-centered marriage. Their love spilled over and was poured out on everyone who knew them. We are eternally grateful that they introduced us to Jesus Christ. They left us with an enduring legacy of love and a sustaining faith in Christ.

Nancy is preceded in death by her husband, Ed; her parents, Jim and Margie Bentley; mother-in-law, Hallie Scholls; and her son-in-law, Danny Fortson.

She is survived by her four children, Eddie Scholls, Kris Fortson, Melissa Johnson (Tom), and Patty Drohan (Andy); her four grandchildren, Katie, Drew, Hallie, and Tony; four great-grandchildren, Aerin, Alex, Ayden, and Joseph; and a great-great grandson, Donnie; as well as special friends, Lisa Hebert and Frank Hendrickson.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 12:10 PM Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, 19 N. Palafox St., Pensacola, FL, with Fr. Joe Fowler celebrant. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 1300 E. Hayes St., Pensacola, FL.

In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make memorial contributions to Emerald Coast Hospice, 2190 Airport Blvd., Suite# 2850, Pensacola, FL 32504.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Nancy's church family at St. Michael's Parish, Fr. Joe Fowler, Ms. Muriel Finger (Muriel Finger Sitters) and her dedicated team of CNAs (Sandra Buchanan, Patrice Fountain, Jacquie Gillman, Sandra James, Marie Kathy Rayburn, and Lizzie Saulsberry). Centerwell Home Health, Emerald Coast Palliative Care (Katrina Snider, APRN), and Emerald Coast Hospice (Pennye Lane, RN, and Jill Gray, RN).