Nancy Lee Bates

Nancy Lee Turgasen Bates, 81, of Danville, died on May 5, 2015 in her home after a long bout with cancer. Nancy was born on February 12, 1934 in Louisville, Kentucky to Vernon Louis and Julie Meier Turgasen. They preceded her in death. A sister, Susan Sawyer, survives. Nancy attended Crete, Illinois schools and graduated from Iowa State University in 1956 with a B.S. in Home Economics Education. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Nu honor societies and Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She married Keith Allen Bates, DVM, on August 24, 1956 at Crete Methodist Church, Crete, IL. He survives. Also surviving are a son, Brian Keith Bates (Patricia) and their two sons Johnathon "Jake" and Nick of Champaign; and Dr. Becky Jo Estill (Scott) and their two daughters Sara and Caitlin of Morrison, Colorado. While her husband was in the military, Nancy taught school in Seattle, Washington and subsequently taught part-time in Georgetown and Danville, IL in order to have more time for her family and community activities. She was active in PTA and Music Boosters organizations, and was a Great Books leader. She joined the Lakeview Hospital Junior Board, Junior Service Club, the Danville Symphony Guild, P.E.O. Sisterhood, and was on the board of the Christian Home for Youth and the Danville Rescue Mission. She served as president of the League of Women Voters and Salvation Army Auxiliary, and was active on several local school and community referendum committees, including the Committee for the Middlefork Reservoir. In 1980, she was elected for the Board of Trustees at Danville Area Community College, and was the first woman board chair for her final two years, ending in 1999. During this time, she was active in the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, serving as Secretary, Regional Cahir, and on several committees. In 1999, she received the Association of Community College Trustees TRUSTEE LEADERSHIP AWARD for the Central U.S. Region, and was the recipient of the annual Athena Award from Danville Area Chamber of Commerce for her years of leadership at the college and in the community. Her most recent award was received in the fall of 2014, that of Director Emeritus of the DACC Foundation. During this period, she stopped teaching and most of her other activities to concentrate on the college, and began working part-time in her husband's veterinary clinic. After retirement, she and her husband enjoyed traveling, and they began volunteer tutoring. She joined the Danville Garden Club, was a member of Clover Club, P.E.O., and served as an officer in the Lincoln Park Historic District Homeowners Association. She also served on the Webster Foundation and the Danville Area Community College Foundation boards. Her hobbies were needlework and golf. Always devoted to her Christian faith, she served as an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and in many capacities at St. James United Methodist Church, including playing hand bells for many years. Memorials may be made to the Dr. Keith A. and Nancy T. Bates Endowed Chair at Danville Area Community College or The Nancy T. Bates Scholarship. A Celebration of Nancy's life will be held at St. James United Methodist Church of Danville at 2 PM on Saturday, May 9, 2015. With Reverend Randall Robinson officiating. Burial will take place at Spring Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be at Sunset Funeral Home in Danville, a Life Celebration Home, on Friday, May 8, 2015 4 to 7 PM. Please join Nancy's family in sharing video, pictures and memories on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com

Visitation May 8, 2015 Friday, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center 3940 N. Vermilion Street Danville, IL 61834 Service May 9, 2015 Saturday, 2:00 PM Saint James United Methodist Church 504 N. Vermilion St. Danville, IL 61832 Final Resting Place Spring Hill Cemetery 301 East Voorhees Danville, IL 61832