Nila Jean Utterback

ANDERSON, IN:

Nila Jean Utterback, 91 of Anderson, and formerly of Tipton, passed away on Sunday, August 30, 2026 in Anderson.  Nila Jean was born in Paulding, Ohio and raised in Payne, Ohio.  She also lived in Willshire, Lakeview, and Gallipolis, all in Ohio, Highland, Indiana and then to Tipton while moving her family as her husband John’s pastoral assignments changed.  Nila Jean’s parents were Lewis H. & Bernice A. (Gebhart) Shaffer.  She married John E. Utterback on September 5, 1953 and he preceded her in death on March 14, 2016.

Nila Jean had several different jobs throughout her life including working as a model for L.S. Ayres, a retail display manager, restaurant hostess, high school supervisor aide and she worked at the Emanuel Lutheran Church child care.  She was a longtime member of the First Church of the Nazarene and a graduate of the Helen Wells Modeling Agency.  Nila Jean enjoyed floral arranging and decorating.  Nila also enjoyed collecting and restoring dolls. She loved watching Westerns on TV, especially John Wayne!  But her number one activity was shopping!

Survivors include her three children, Jackie Greene and husband Eric, Alexandria, Jay Utterback and wife Karen, Indianapolis and Amy Roberts and husband Wade of Anderson.  Nila Jean has six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by one sister and brother-in-law, Betty & David Barkley.

Nila Jean’s funeral will be held in Payne, Ohio.  Her funeral will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4 at the Dooley Funeral Home, 5761 State Route 500, Payne, Ohio, 45880 with Rev. David Stout presiding.  Burial will follow in Wiltsie Cemetery, also in Payne.  Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Young-Nichols Funeral Home is assisting Nila Jean’s family with her arrangements.  Online condolences may be left on her obituary page at www.young-nichols.com.  Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105.