Nancy Jo (Taylor) Lenz, 67, of Parchment, MI, passed away on Friday, October 27, 2023, from complications with cancer. She was born on December 27, 1955, in Kalamazoo, MI to Louis Allen “Dutch” Taylor and Barbara Jean (Hill) Taylor. A life-long resident of the Parchment area, Nancy attended the Parchment school system and completed her business degree at Western Michigan University.

She began her career in banking at Michigan National Bank in 1978, working as a senior auditor until 1990. At that time, she accepted a position as the Community Redevelopment Manager, supporting community-focused projects across the Kalamazoo area. After twenty-three years with Michigan National Bank, Nancy embarked on a seventeen-year career as the Psychiatry Program Administrator at Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, later the Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Here she supported the final stages of education for doctors preparing to enter the field and was the recipient of the Lucille Fusaro Meinsler Program Administrator Award from the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training.

Nancy dedicated her life to community service. She was active with countless organizations including the Junior League of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services, the Food Bank of South-Central Michigan, Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity, and Downtown Kalamazoo Inc., and was appointed to the Michigan Community Service Commission by Governor Engler. As an active parent in the Parchment school system, she was elected to the district’s Board of Education. During her eighteen years of service on the board, she held multiple terms as president, earned the Diamond Award from the Michigan Association of School Boards, and supported a quality educational experience for thousands of students.

Nancy was also active with the Parchment United Methodist Church for three decades, supporting community engagement and serving in various leadership roles. In her final years, she organized the Fresh Food Initiative housed at the church. The program has helped to combat food insecurity for many families in need in the Parchment community.

Nancy was preceded in death by her father, Louis Allen Taylor. She is survived by her mother, Barbara Jean (Hill) Taylor of Parchment, MI and her son, Adam Taylor Lenz of Windsor, CT. She is also survived by her cousins, Mark, Michael, Gary, and Scott Szekely who were like brothers to her across her life.

A memorial service will be held at Parchment United Methodist Church, 225 Glendale Blvd., Parchment, MI, on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the South Michigan Food Bank in support of the PUMC’s Fresh Food Initiative.