Nancelyn Marie Kniffin Brennan Poe

A Legacy of Love, Service, and Adventure

Nancelyn Marie Kniffin Poe, 84, beloved sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed peacefully on March 21, 2025, at her Palm Harbor home, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on December 17, 1940, to Walter and Marie Kniffin in Chicago, Illinois, Nancy grew up in Zanesville, Ohio, alongside her brother, Wally. She graduated from Bishop Rosecrans High School, where she enjoyed photography and playing the xylophone. Shortly after, she married and had seven children, raising them in Oldsmar, Florida.

Nancy’s life was a testament to her unwavering dedication to family, faith, and community. She is survived by six of her seven children: Bill, Marianne, Tom, Christina, Bonnie, and Wendy; her brother, Wallace Kniffin; fourteen grandchildren: Tabatha, Christopher, Brooke, Brett, Sydney, Blake, Eric, Scott, Brianne, Dylan, Michael, Sarah, Stephanie, and Amanda; and four great-grandsons: Jameson, Owen, Adrian, and Reid. She is also lovingly remembered by the five children she gained through her marriage to Richard Elbert Poe in July 2004: Paul, Shelly, Nikki, David and Doug.   Nancy is preceded in death by her son, Michael, and husband, Richard.

For decades, Nancy called the Tampa Bay area home and was deeply involved in her community, particularly in Oldsmar. A true pioneer, she was one of the founding members of Oldsmar’s first Little League for boys and girls, played a key role in establishing the city’s Bicentennial Olympics, and was instrumental in organizing the city’s annual Halloween and Easter celebrations. In the 1980s, Nancy volunteered as a firefighter and EMT and was honored as the recipient of Oldsmar Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year award.

Professionally, Nancy dedicated her career to public service, first for the City of Oldsmar, followed by decades as a Pinellas County 911 Emergency Services operator. In her late 60’s Nancy earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services Criminal Justice and certification in Polygraphy. Nancy worked as a polygraphy technician instructor at the Academy of Polygraph Science, which was founded by her late husband, Richard.  Nancy and Richard were active members of the Florida Polygraph Association for years.

Her enthusiasm for the Tampa Bay area was matched only by her passion for sports. She was a 30-year+ season ticket holder for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a season ticket holder for the Tampa Bay Storm, and a dedicated fan of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Prior to moving to St. Mark Village in 2022, Nancy and her late husband Richard were active members of the Ridge Manor Community United Methodist Church. In her three years at St. Mark, she cherished her time with her late husband Richard,  performances in the Fun Chorus,  Silver Wheels, and spending afternoons on the porch with her beloved dog,  Spunky.  

Beyond her devotion to service, family, and faith, Nancy had a love for travel and adventure. She enjoyed cruising to various ports, especially Alaska, and particularly cherished a recent Disney Cruise. Nancy was also passionate about taking fall foliage road trips to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her annual family trips to Disney’s Fort Wilderness, celebrating her birthday and family Christmas for 24 years, were some of her most treasured memories.

Nancy’s legacy will continue to inspire all who knew her, and she will live on forever in the hearts of her family.

Services to Honor Nancy’s Life: 

Wednesday, March 26th
9:00 AM

St. Mark Village Chapel

2655 Nebraska Avenue
Palm Harbor, Florida 34688

In celebration of Nancy’s love for sports and Disney, the family encourages attendees to wear Tampa Bay team sports or Disney attire.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project:
7020 A.C. Skinner Parkway, Suite 100
Jacksonville, FL 32256
1-877-832-6997
www.woundedwarriorproject.org

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