Nancy Lenore Wiley

Nancy Roberts Wiley passed away peacefully in her sleep in Walnut Creek on September 15, 2021.  For the past five years she had lived at Carlton Senior Living in Pleasant Hill, where she moved in 2016 to be near her family. 

Nancy was born in Sacramento to Inez and Homer Roberts.  Despite her father’s tragic death just after her first birthday, Nancy had a childhood filled with love and activities such as dance classes, piano recitals, cotillion classes and slumber parties. She excelled in academics, and graduated from C.K. McClatchy High School in 1949.

Having been accepted to both Stanford and UC Berkeley, Nancy had the good sense to choose Cal.  While at Berkeley she was a member of Alpha Phi, where she made lifelong friends. Her sorority sisters affectionally nicknamed her “Red” because of her distinctive auburn hair.  Nancy earned her degree in Journalism in 1953. Following college, she began a career in the advertising industry in San Francisco.

In 1955 Nancy married Allan “Buck” Wiley, whom she met at Cal. She lived for many years on the Wiley Ranch on Arroyo Seco Road in the Salinas Valley, where she raised four rambunctious boys.  While growing up on the ranch the boys had many activities including sports, hunting, music lessons and 4-H Club.  Nancy facilitated and encouraged these activities while assuring that academics and college prep remained paramount. 

In addition to her family focus, Nancy had a passion for giving back to the community.  Her volunteer work included Soledad PTA, Gonzales High School Booster Club, Trinity Episcopal Church, Trinity Nursery School and Soledad 4-H, where she served as Community Leader. 

In her rare moments of spare time Nancy enjoyed reading, craft projects and playing bridge.  She was an avid follower of the San Francisco Giants and the University of California Golden Bears.  Nancy was a lifetime member of the Cal Alumni Association.

Nancy will be remembered for her smile (with dimples), her warmth, her genuine friendliness and her acceptance of and kindness toward all people no matter their station in life.  She will be missed.

Nancy is survived by her sons Steve (Odette) of Salinas, David (Catriona) of Concord, Kent (Cheri) of Durham and Keith (Amy) of Atascadero, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren (with two more on the way). 

The family would like to thank the staff at Carlton Senior Living in Pleasant Hill for their loving attention and care over the last year, as well as the medical staff at John Muir Hospital for their care during Nancy’s brief stay.

Nancy will be buried alongside her parents at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Sacramento.  Funeral services will be private.  The family asks that any donations in Nancy’s memory be made to the University of California Alumni Association Alumni Scholars Program by donating online: give.berkeley.edu/fund/FL0513000 or by calling 510.643.9789.

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