Nancy Parlett - Obituary

The world dimmed a little on September 11, 2025, when Nancy Lee Catterton Parlett passed away peacefully in the early morning hours, surrounded by the friends she called family. She was 91. Born at Annapolis Hospital on May 30, 1934, Nancy proudly described herself as a 10th-generation South County farm girl, raised on her parents’ tobacco farms in Harwood, Maryland. She was the beloved daughter of Herbert T. and Alverta W. Catterton, and sister of Herbert W. Catterton. After graduating from Southern High School in 1952 and attending Fleet Business School shortly thereafter, she married the love of her life, Leonard “Buddy” H. Parlett, Jr. Buddy built their beloved Parvilla home, where they started their family and their story together. Nancy was a young model in Washington, D.C., appearing in print and billboard ads for Woodward & Lothrop, Garfinkel’s, and other elegant department stores, frequently traveling to New York for bridal shows. A natural beauty, she became known as much for her sparkling wit and adventurous spirit as for her flawless style. “I’ll try anything once,” she often said — and she meant it. She smoked (back in the day), she sipped, she laughed loudly, and she lived boldly. Nancy learned to fly her own plane, jumped out of airplanes for the thrill of it, and traveled the world. She was a skier, both snow and water, and once even set a local record by gliding confidently on a slalom ski from the South River in Edgewater all the way to Solomon’s Island. It took five hours. Part of most summers were reserved for her beloved Ocean City, where she grew up going as a girl and never stopped loving — the salt air, the boardwalk, and the ocean always calling her back. She and Buddy shared a love of aviation until tragedy struck eleven years into their marriage in 1964, when he was killed in a plane crash just three miles from home. Left a widow at 30, with a 9-month-old developmentally disabled daughter, Susie, in her arms, Nancy carried on with remarkable courage and grace. She went to work in Buddy’s family business, Arundel Gas and Water Conditioning, dedicating herself fully until her retirement in 1994. She provided Susie with the best schools and support, always enriching her and making her the center of her world. Her passions were on the golf course and in the garden. Nancy was a master gardener who transformed her Edgewater property into a lush paradise of crepe myrtles, dogwoods, and countless blooms. “It will never be finished. There’s always more to do,” she often said, a philosophy that reflected both her garden and her zest for life. Nancy was the life of every party. Her smile lit up rooms, her laugh roared like music, and her generosity overflowed to everyone. She loved her golf rounds, her cocktails, her gardens, her time at the beach, and above all, the people she gathered around her. To know Nancy was to be swept into her semi-chaotic orbit of laughter, kindness, adventure, and style. Through everything, she was always impeccably stylish and poised: coiffed hair, chic wardrobe, and the timeless grace of an “old-world grande dame.” Always current with the latest trends, she delighted in fashion as much in her 90s as she did in her modeling days. She was known to arrive perfectly put together, whether stepping onto the golf course, attending a party, or just enjoying a casual day. Shopping was one of her joys — she never missed an opportunity to browse a boutique or flip through a glossy catalog. To the very end, Nancy treated life as an occasion worth dressing for. Nancy was predeceased by daughter, Susie, who passed away on July 2, 2017, and by her brother, Herbert, who died in 2023. Though Nancy carried those losses in her heart, she was never without love, laughter, and chosen family. She is survived by her beloved friend Mary Wadland, who was truly like a second daughter to her; her friends like family, Susan Engles, Maura Hulsey, Patti Miller, Theresa Marker, Ollie Miller, and Ann King; her amazing caregiver Lianna Echevernia, her goddaughter, Wendy Carr, along with Pam and Jill Carr; and a joyful tribe of nieces and nephews, too numerous to count. Closest to home, she leaves behind her loyal cat, Elsa — who claimed the spot by her side every night — and her grand dog, Teddy. Friends are invited to celebrate Nancy’s life on Friday, September 26 at 1 p.m. at Davidsonville United Methodist Church, 819 W Central Ave, Davidsonville. Interment to follow in the church cemetery. Friends and family are encouraged to celebrate her remarkable life by following her own instructions, which say it best: “Don’t cry and feel like you have to wear black. It’s a party. Celebrate! I lived a heck of a life!” In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Maryland Therapeutic Riding, 1141 Sunrise Beach Road, Crownsville, MD 21032, or online at Horses That Heal in Memory of Nancy Parlett.