Nancy Jane Dockins

Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, and Friend. Nancy Jane Dockins (née Smith), 86, passed away peacefully in her daughter’s home surrounded by family on March 21, 2026.

She was born July 31, 1939 in Bernie, Missouri to Charles Smith and Josie Grayum Smith. She had 5 siblings. Nancy grew up in the Baptist Church and later was a long-time active member of her church, First Baptist Church St. Charles, for over 50 years.

Nancy was always hard working and hobby loving. While at Bernie High School she was the lead majorette and a leader in the band. During this time she also earned spending money by picking cotton and working at a local soda shop.

She was a loving wife to the late Shelby Cooper until his passing in 1970. They lived in St. Charles with their daughter, Sheila. Nancy worked at McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) from the 1960s to the 1970s.

Nancy met Gerald Dockins in 1971, and they were married by 1972. Their son, Michael, soon came to follow. She, Gerry, and their children moved from St. Charles to O’Fallon (now Dardenne Prairie). She became a top realtor for Coldwell Banker(/Gundaker), and worked there for 20+ years.

She was a very crafty person, overall, and loved to be creative - whether that be through sewing, painting, or other endeavors. She found beauty in everything, and enjoyed nature in its many facets. You could always find her with a camera in-hand, taking pictures of the natural world around her - or of people and events. She fostered this worldview in her family, and passed along her love of creating and crafting to her children and grandchildren.

Nancy was an avid and loyal fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. She kept up with their roster and stats for many years.

Family was always the most important thing to Nancy; spending time with the family she built and making regular trips to see family out of town. She took great interest in the lives of her children and grandchildren, rarely missing an event.

Nancy also was a great friend, and kept life-long friendships. You could find her working with friends at church, volunteering with her sorority, hosting a garden party or garden tour, playing bunco, or visiting with friends when she wasn’t busy with family or work.

She was kind-hearted, loving, thoughtful, generous, brave, courageous… and she could also be stubborn when she wanted to be. She had a heart of gold, and will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her. Comfort can be found knowing that she has entered the Kingdom of Heaven and is having her own reunion with her loved ones who have gone on before her. Her memory will live on in all whom she’s touched.

Nancy will be lovingly remembered by her children, Sheila (Garth) Johnson and Michael Dockins; grandchildren, Danielle “Dee” (Ryan) Johnson and Shelby (Jeff) Hank; siblings, Gaylon Smith, Shirley Grimes, Charles Edward Smith, and David (Debbie) Smith; and numerous other family members and friends.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Josie, her first husband Shelby, her sister Kay Jenkins, and her second husband, Gerald “Gerry”.

In the spirit of celebrating Nancy, please wear royal blue (her favorite color) or something bright to her visitation and funeral, if you’d like.