Nancy Whitaker
1940 - 2026

Nancy Whitaker Metcalf died peacefully on 9/16/2025 at age 85 with her cat, Celia, at her side. She was born in 1940 to Anne O'Neil and Harris Whitaker in Bronxville, NY. Prior to college she and her family, which also included her younger brother, Charles Whitaker, lived in Roseburg, OR. Nancy attended the University of Oregon, where she met and later married John (Jack) Hilgedick, settled in Oakland, CA, and raised two sons. In 1982, Nancy moved to W. Richland, WA, where she worked as a technical editor and wrote about best practices, funded by federal grants supporting clean-up efforts at the Hanford reservation. In 2021, Nancy relocated to Normandy Park, WA, to live closer to her sons.

Nancy had a lively mind, an outgoing personality, and a colorful wardrobe. She was both well-read and well-travelled. Her poetry career was most active in the 1980's during which she organized the Rattlesnake Writer's Conference which was honored with the Washington State Governor's Award. As she got older, Nancy greatly enjoyed annual trips to Hawaii, reading, thrift shopping, working crossword puzzles, and the company of her cats. For her entire life, she was a fierce defender of the less fortunate and strong believer that all people were worthy of respect and empathy. She loved her family. She is survived by her brother, Charles Whitaker (Cheryl French), sons, Joseph Luke Hilgedick (Elisabeth Hilgedick) and John Matthew Hilgedick (Elizabeth MacKenzie); and four grandchildren, Zoe Hilgedick and Adelynn, Izach, and Ella Metcalf. Contributions in Nancy's honor can be made to either Kline Galland Hospice Care (https://www.klinegalland.org/ ) or the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC, https://www.nrdc.org/ ).