Obituary
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Nancy Anne Gayton

Date of Death: January 28, 2026

Date of Birth: July 22, 1952

Biography:

It is with deep sadness that we share the news that Nancy (Austin) Gayton of Durham, passed away at Andwell Hospice House in Auburn on January 28, 2026. She was 73.

Nancy was born in Bath, Maine, on July 22, 1952, to parents Blaine and Margaret Austin. She attended Durham Elementary and Lisbon High School and earned an Education degree at the University of Maine, Farmington. She taught kindergarten at Durham Elementary for 25 years, retiring in 2005. More recently, she was a substitute teacher and one-on-one assistant at Fiddlehead School in Gray. She was also a seasonal employee at L.L. Bean for decades.

Nancy met and fell in love with Ed Gayton in high school, and the two attended college together and married in 1975. They built a home and raised two exceptional children, Katie and Alex, who remained close while raising their own families.

Nancy was an intensely private person with a very giving and empathetic heart. She preferred to do her good works behind the scenes, helping those in need with quiet generosity and Christian kindness. At Christmastime, in particular, Nancy would rally to help individuals and families with warm clothes and gifts to put under the tree.

Giving was an expression of love and a lifelong commitment for Nancy. More than 20 years ago, she and Ed made the decision to open their hearts and home to children in need. Over the years they fostered scores of children and went on to adopt six as their own.

Nancy was interested in learning new skills and over time became an expert tailor, basket weaver, and photographer. She had a soft spot for animals and took pride in her flock of chickens, each with its own name and personality, and the many little dogs she loved over the years.

She loved to travel and her “happy place” was Martha’s Vineyard, where she and the family have vacationed for 25 years. Earlier, she and the kids, along with her mother Margaret, spent April vacations in Boston, visiting her sister, learning the history, and exploring the joys of the city. More recently, she caught the travel bug to more far-flung destinations, making an annual Christmas trip to NYC with sisters Peggy and Sandra, and visiting Peggy in Colorado. The three had started planning a trip to Greece later this year.

Nancy is survived by her loving, devoted daughter Katie Ballou and husband Jake of Durham; son Alex and wife Krista of Durham; daughters Sabrina, Kamryn, Annie, and Abby; sons Eddie and Johnny; and beloved grandchildren Isaac, Noah, Gabriel, Margaret, Elizabeth, Gage, and Fiona all of Durham; sisters Sandra Austin and Mark McCormick of Falmouth, Peggy and Ralph Brick of Monument, Colorado, and several nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held at Shiloh Chapel, 38 Beulah Lane, Durham, on Friday, February 20, from 4-5:00 p.m. with a memorial service immediately following. Donations in Nancy’s memory can be made to the Gayton Children’s Fund at GoFundMe.com