Nina Lou (Daugherty)ty) OlexaOle

Nina Lou (Daugherty)Daugher Olexa, beloveded mother,mother grandmother and cherishedished wife,wif died peacefully at home surrounded byb her family on Novvember 14, 2020. Nina was born in Philippi, West Virginia on Augustugust 3, 1940 and graduatedg with the Websterebster SpringsSpr High School Class of 1958; she has always called West Virginia her home. Growing up on a farm in West Virginia sparsparked and nurtured her lifelong love foror animals and the outdoorsoutdoors.

Nina worked for many yearsears as a nnurse’s aide and manager of the snackk bar at PPainesville Lanes, but her most rewardingarding accomplishment wwas raising four children, spoiling her grandchildren,andchildren, and carcaring for animals and wildlife. She fed the birds, stray cats, squirrels, and chipmunks and had no problemlem with the deer eating her flowers, recently commenting, “If they’re hungry, I’m glad they have my flowersers to eat.eat.” It wasn’t an uncommon occurrence to see a squirrel sitting and looking in the sliding glass doors in anticipation of “peanpeanut time”. For many years, she nursed orphanedphaned animals brought to her bby the county game warden; there were babyy foxes,f raccoons, deer, and squirrels - all successfully nurturedtured and reintroduced into the wild once they were ablele to fendf for themselves. Nina had a trueue and deep connection to nature and the outdoorsoutdoors, which is a reflection of her tender and lovinglo soul. She was an avid seamstress, loveded to crochet and craft,cr and was a collector of many things; her NativeNativ American heritage greatly influenced her lifee and her favoritef movie was The Searchers,, which is based on the truetr story of our relative, Cynthia Ann Parker,, who is memorializedmemor in the book, Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson. She loved the lake, fishing, walks in the woods,, and sawsa beauty and wonder in all things Mother Nature providesvides us.us

Nina is survived by her husband, Richard W. Olexa, Sr. who has loved and cared foror her forf over 39 years, her four children, Kellyelly Cogar Bearer,Bearer Mark (Julie) Cogar, Craig (Doreen) Cogar, and Julieulie (Jeff) Cogar Jukiewicz;J three step-children, Jacqueline Olexa,xa, Michelle Olexa-OleGates, and Richard W. Olexa, Jr.; her brothers-hers-in-lalaw, Joseph DiMauro and Ron Jones, her sister-in-laww, Joyce Daugherty, and her brother-in-law, Davidvid (Glenna) Olexa.Ole

She was blessed with elevven grandchildren: Bryanen Bearer, Twins ~ Fr. Jacobacob Bearer and MarMarissa Bearer, Jessica Cogar, Tyler Cogar,, Derek (Emily) Cogar,Cogar Twins ~ Miranda (Steve) Nenno and KyleK Cogar, Alyssa (Ricky) Durdak, Matthew Crouse,, and JeffreyJeffre Jukiewicz; five step-grandchildren, Tyleryler Gates,Gate Alexa Gates, Catalina Esquivel, Rikki Esquivel, and KaylieKa Olexa. Her blessings continued with nine great grandchildrenandchildren and four step-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death bby her parents, John A. Daughtery, Sr. and Margaret (BurBurner) Daugherty, her sisters, Shirley DiMauro,, SandraSandr Jones, and Mary (Cofer) Carpenter, her brother, John A. “Sonny” Daugherty, Jr.; her father-in-law, Samuel Olexa,xa, mother-in-law,la Rose (Fuchik) Olexa, and sister-in-law, Robertata “Bobbie” (Olexa) Denny.

Due to COVID restrictions, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, the familyamily suggests donations in Nina’sNina’ honor to Susan G. Komenomen Breast Cancer FoundationF or The Lake County Humane Society.