Margaret Joan Nist

Margaret Joan Nist (nee Vincent) of Bethany Beach, DE, passed away on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.  She grew up in Wilmington, DE, until her family moved to Geneva, Switzerland – an unpopular decision with teenaged Margy.  As it turned out, her Swiss adventures provided for fantastic tales later in life.  The experience was one of many in life that taught her “this too, shall pass.”

Margy attended Hiram College in Ohio and became an elementary school teacher.  She settled in Gaithersburg, MD, where the highlight of each year was the family vacation to Bethany Beach.  Her few weeks there eventually turned into entire summers.  In 1994, she and her late husband, Jim, moved to The Salt Pond in Bethany, where she developed an incredible community of friends over the past 3 decades.

Margy worked in special education in Montgomery County, then served as the administrator for the Maryland Addiction Counseling Certification Board.  In Bethany, she enjoyed a successful real estate career, from which she retired two years ago.

She was a fiercely loving mother and grandmother.  She and her partner, Kevin, traveled to Jacksonville Beach, FL, frequently to spend time with her daughter, son-in-law, and precious grandson.  Her laugh was a song, her smile lit up a room, and her hugs were healing.  Margy’s hope and faith guided her journey through life and helped light the way for countless others.  Her many years of dedication to the 12 Steps offered kindness and refuge to friends, family, and strangers in need.  She was always a helper.  Her love language was gift-giving, and she rarely visited friends or family without offering “just the right thing.”

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Brown and Regina O’Grady Vincent, and her husband, James Sherry Nist.  Margy is survived by her daughter, Megan Regina Weigel, son-in-law, Erich Ross Heilman, grandson, Erich Dane Heilman, and life partner, Kevin Dougherty.  She is also remembered by her siblings, Sandra Maciel (m. Antonio), Kathleen Taggart (m. John), and William Brown Vincent II (m. Cindy); stepchildren Jim, John, Amy, Sherry, Paul and David Nist; and (great) nephews and nieces who will dearly miss their Aunt Margy.

Memorial contributions can be made to Delaware Hospice (www.delwarehospice.org) or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org), organizations close to Margy’s heart.