Nancy Aylein Monzingo

Joy, love, exuberance! These are the words to describe our dear friend Nancy Monzingo. Sadly, her heart gave out on September 19, 2024 in her hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Nancy Aylein Monzingo was born on December 27, 1950 in Baton Rouge to parents McLuther “Mac” Monzingo and Weslyn Stephens Monzingo. She grew up in Shreveport, graduating from Byrd High School in 1968. Nancy attended Principia College before transferring to Louisiana Tech University where she earned her degree in Elementary Education. She taught at the Agnew School in Shreveport, and in public schools in Livonia, Louisiana and Grand Prairie, Texas for about a decade. In the summers Nancy and friends went on “adventures” in Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the USA. After the loss of her mother, Nancy decided to embrace her love of art by

pursuing another undergraduate degree in Fine Art at the University of  Texas in Austin, and then enrolled in a Masters of Fine Arts program at CalArts.

Nancy spent the ensuing years on the west coast, moving from Los Angeles to San Francisco, where she was a manager at the original Hamburger Mary’s, and to Portland, Oregon. In 1996 she had an opportunity to move to New Orleans, where she had often visited friends, but never actually lived. For the rest of her life Nancy worked as a

freelance artist, painting designs on refinished furniture and on canvas rugs that were sold in the antique shops on Magazine Street. She designed a “wrap” for a swamp tour bus, and received several commissions to paint murals for children’s rooms in uptown homes. When Nancy was displaced to Shreveport by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, serendipity connected her with the congregation of her childhood place of worship, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, who were looking for a muralist for their nursery room.

Nancy permanently moved back to Shreveport to be with her aging father before his death in 2016. She remained in her childhood home on Reily Lane until her passing. She reconnected with many Byrd friends from the Class of 68, and joined them for lunches, dinners, and a monthly bunco game. At the time of her death Nancy was working on illustrations for a children’s book.

Nancy is survived by her sister Lynda Monzingo, and nieces Nancy Lyn (and Jim) Riggs and Beckye (and Jim) Brown, and several great nieces and nephews. Nancy’s second family included the late Edie Sanders and her children Carol (and Charles) Hampton and Allen (and Kathy) Sanders.

Nancy treasured her longtime friendships with Lan DeGeneres, Martha Dover & John Swan, Helaine & Bill Braunig, Rick & Cheryl Crouse, and Cathey Roos Cook and the lunch ladies. With her smiles and ebullience, Nancy spread cheer wherever she went, whether it was to the grocery or FedEx store or out to dinner with friends. We will miss you immeasurably, Nancy!

Interment will be next to her beloved parents at Forest Park Cemetery. A Celebration of Nancy’s Life will be scheduled later.

Donations in Nancy’s memory can be made to the Nancy Monzingo Memorial Scholarship Fund for high school visual art students online using this link:  https://cfnl.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=4201

Community Foundation of North Louisiana

401 Edwards Street, Suite 105

Shreveport, LA 71101

The check should be made to Community Foundation of North Louisiana and list The Art of Giving Fund for CE Byrd in the subject line.