Margaret Eileen Nettles

Maggie Nettles, 64, died at home on June 9th, with her life partner, Gary Crider, at her side. Maggie had been diagnosed with colon cancer fifteen months earlier. Fortunately, most of those months were spent comfortably; she had spent a week at the South Carolina Coast just a month ago, taking walks, having long conversations, listening to her son play beautiful music, and watching wildlife.
Maggie was born on October 7, 1946, in Maryville, Tennessee, to Catharine P. and Marvin D. Minear. In 1954, the family moved to Kilbourn, Iowa, before moving to Florida in 1958, where Maggie graduated as valedictorian from Vero Beach Senior High School in 1964.

Maggie received her B.A. from Auburn University (1970), her M.A from the University of Georgia (1976), and her Ph.D. in English from the University of Georgia (1983). Her dissertation, titled The Land, the Self, and the Word, reflected her life-long love of literature, natural history, and wildlife. From the mid-1980s through 2000, she taught English at Athens Technical College and eventually became the Dean of General Education. After leaving the College, she worked as a technical writer and then at the River Basin Center in the School of Ecology at the University of Georgia.
Maggie's life was full of activities and passions that she sought out daily. Foremost, she loved being outside observing and being present in nature. From her home, she took long walks, kayaked on the North Oconee River, and watched the birds that gathered around feeders and bird baths that Gary so lovingly placed around the house. One of the joys of living in University Heights was having her long-time colleague and friend, Carol Myers, just across the street. Maggie enjoyed planning for and then taking many hiking, camping, and kayaking trips in the Southeast. Her favorite place to camp was in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area in Pisgah National Forest, where she returned many times; she even chose to spend her 60th birthday there with friends on a mountain top that she so dearly loved. For Maggie, the natural world, especially birds and wildflowers, both piqued her curiosity and provided her much joy and solace.
Maggie also loved her life and friends in Athens. She took particular pleasure in listening to her son, Dan Nettles, play jazz with his band, Kenosha Kid, at various venues around town. For years on Sundays, she walked with her dear friend Theresa Cullen from Cobbham to downtown and back with a regular stop in Espresso Royale for a cherished cup of coffee. Maggie was an active member of the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society, having served for a time as President; she edited and wrote regularly for its newsletter, The Yellowthroat. At home, she devoured piles of books from the Athens-Clarke County Library. Maggie will be remembered as a person of incredible integrity, intellect, and compassion and as a loyal friend.
Maggie is survived by Gary Crider, her partner in life since the early 1990s, and her musician son, Daniel Nettles of Athens, the pride of her life. She is predeceased by her son, Casey Nettles. She is also survived by her mother, Catharine Minear, of Athens, as well as five siblings: John Minear of Nellysford, Virginia; David Minear of Hanau, Germany; Kenneth Minear, of Portland, Oregon; Winifred Minear of San Pedro Sula, Honduras; and Dorothy Minear of Tallahassee, Florida.
At her request, Maggie was cremated. A celebration of her life for family and friends will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Maggie's honor to the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society (P.O. Box 81082, Athens, GA 30608-1082).