Janet Nesler

Janet Nesler, 94, died Friday, December 2, 2022 in the SOMC Hospice Center.  Born on September 16, 1928 in Sciotoville, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Jewel Carpenter Neff. 

Also preceding her in death in 2002 was her husband, Charles Nesler, whom she married in 1956; a brother, Eugene Neff; a sister, Imogene Hensley and a beloved grandson, Jimmy Gambill.

Surviving are two sons, Jeff Nesler and wife, Stephanie, of Flatwoods, KY and Eric Nesler and wife, Tracie, of Portsmouth; two daughters, Kathe and husband, Chuck, Kurtz of Sciotoville and Valerie and husband, Jeff, Lybarger of Lancaster; a grandson, Robbie (Kat) Gambill of Alaska; two granddaughters, Lisa Silhavy (Joe Dalton) of Portsmouth and Samantha Nesler of Flatwoods, KY; five great-grandchildren, Meagan (Wes) Sherer, Haley (Craig) McLaughlin, and Chris, Jesse and Isaac Silhavy; and six great-great grandchildren.  Also surviving is a cherished friend for over 40 years and honorary member of the Nesler family, Dexter Wolfe.

Janet was a former member of Sciotoville Christian Church and Wheelersburg First Church of Christ.  A graduate of East High School, she held degrees from Shawnee State University and Portsmouth Interstate Business College.  She had a beautiful voice and sang in various church choirs and productions of the Southern Ohio Light Opera.  Janet won numerous awards for her photography, poetry and writing, and authored three books of poetry: A HANDFUL OF LIFE (2018), SOMEONE OUGHT TO SAY SOMETHING (2018) and WAITING (2020).  She was editor for over 20 years of poetry columns in both the Portsmouth Daily Times and the Scioto Voice newspapers, and worked with the Ohio Arts Council to teach poetry in several school districts in Ohio.  Janet was a founding member of Shawnee State’s original poetry group, “Poetry Circle”, which later became “The Phoenix Writers”. 

She worked as a freelance writer/photographer for many publications, and was a wedding photographer for years in Portsmouth and the surrounding area.  Janet was a Kentucky Colonel and according to Ancestry.com, was a distant descendant of Pocahontas.  She loves photography and poetry, but most importantly of all, she loved her Lord, her family and her wonderful canine companions.

A Celebration of Janet’s Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 8^th, at the BRANT FUNERAL HOME IN SCIOTOVILLE with Jeff Lybarger officiating.  Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive guests at Brant’s from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday and 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday.

Memorial gifts may be made to SOMC Hospice.