Obituary of Connie Nobles

Constance (Connie) Lee Cummings Nobles passed away on August 3, 2024, after a long journey with dementia.

Connie was bom in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1940. Her family moved many times as she grew up, and she graduated from North Little Rock High School in Arkansas. Connie went on to study, and meet her future husband, Bill, at Ole Miss. Bill and Connie married in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1961 before Connie's senior year of college. They moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Connie graduated with a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University.

Connie worked at Dow Chemical before fulfilling her dream of becoming a mother, a job she did with all her heart and soul. With Bill, she created a close-knit, loving family of five that became the nucleus of an exceptional extended family that continues to take great joy in one another.

After devoting herself to parenting her children, Connie became Ridge High School's boys' and girls' tennis coach, leading each team to state-level victories. Her players respected and loved their coach, as she focused on building strong people as much as, if not more than, strong players. As part of this work, Connie formed the Ridge Special Olympics tennis program, which continues to be active after 30 years with high school players still a core of the volunteers. In addition to her three children, their spouses, and seven grandchildren, Connie's nurturing heart touched dozens of young people through this work. Many of her high school athletes continued to be in touch with her for decades, and her Special Olympics athletes and their parents consider her a part of their families.

Connie loved to make spaces beautiful. The rooms she decorated - for "real life" and every single holiday - and the gardens she designed and tended made everyone who entered them want to sit down and stay awhile. She was also unsurpassed at choosing gifts for the people she loved, wrapping each perfectly and tying them with beautiful bows. In her "empty nest" years, Connie earned a certificate in Horticultural Therapy and became a talented amateur florist. She brought this deep knowledge and love of nature to each of her children's homes, helping them build their own gardens, and to her grandchildren on many a long, slow, and beloved nature walk.

Connie leaves behind Bill, her loving husband of 63 years; daughters, Amy Nobles Dolan and Susanne Nobles; and their husbands, Jim Dolan and Kevin Perry. Her son, Michael, predeceased her. Connie, fondly called Willie-mum, leaves behind grandchildren JB, Katie, and Sally Dolan; Morgan and Lindsay Nobles; and Sabina and Caleb Perry. Connie is also survived by her brothers, Bob and Chuck Cummings.

A ceremony celebrating Connie's life will be held at 11: 00 am, with a visitation hour from 10:00 - 11:00 am, on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ. Connie loved bright colors, so please wear your own favorite color. A lunch at The Grain House Restaurant will follow for all guests.

As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to Special Olympics in memory of Connie.

Checks (please include Connie's name) to SONJ Area 10 Somerset County can be mailed to PO Box 851,

Somerville, NJ 08876.