Nancy Mettam

A sparkling ray of golden sunshine departed Danville on September 3, 2009 when Nancy Mettam, wife, mother, entrepreneur and community leader, died at her home. Nancy epitomized the ideal American woman of the late 20th century, the consummate mother and homemaker who became a successful businesswoman and influential community leader. She was a self-made woman. Nancys business acumen, sparkling personality, tact, and quiet, steady, pragmatic leadership skills gained her recognition as one of Danvilles most respected women. She became the first woman in Danville to be accepted as a leader in many community-wide organizations traditionally led only by men. As the headline in the October 8, 1985 local newspaper proclaimed: Chamber election makes history. For the first time in its 88-year history the Danville Area Chamber today elected a woman as president. And that story would continue to be repeated through-out the 1980s and 1990s as Nancy was the first woman appointed, elected or named chairman of other local governing bodies or boards of directors: the Zoning Committee of Danville, the Danville Area Economic Development Board, the Palmer -American Bank board, the Provena United Samaritans Hospital board and the United Way board. Born on Nov. 12, 1935 in Pontiac, Michigan to Grace ODea Widdis and Emmett Widdis, she was the eldest of their five daughters. Nancy moved to Danville with her family in 1951 when her father purchased the local Pontiac agency. A 1953 graduate of Danville High School, she attended Indiana University. Nancy was married to Curtis S. Mettam on May 31, 1954, by Father C. B. Motsett at St. Pauls Church in Danville. They lived in several cities in the Midwest before returning to Danville in October 1962 with three daughters. Their fourth daughter was born in Danville. Nancy was a consummate homemaker and mother for the first 17 years of her marriage. She then initiated her work in the business world, first with her friend Grace Herr at Creative Corner. In March 1974 she and Curt founded Mettam Safety Supply Company of which she eventually became president. They worked together initially in a 600-foot building to develop the business into the nationally recognized company it is today. Curt asked Nancy to help him for one year as he traveled in central Illinois and Indiana making sales calls. Nancy was responsible for the daily management of the office and sold to those new customers who phoned their office. Despite never having met many of her new accounts, she developed a sense of trust, sincerity and confidence in the Mettam Safety product line. Her personality and her pleasant forthright voice helped build the customer base. Their start-up business outgrew four locations, moving from one part-time warehouse clerk to 38 employees. Nancys promise to help for one year ended in her retirement after 22 years of growing a successful business that contributed to the community she loved. Nancy began her community life as a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader for her four daughters. She served as president of the St. Elizabeth Hospital Junior Auxiliary Board and as a campaign chair for United Fund and as chairman of Junior Service Clubs Well Baby Clinics. Her first venture into local government was to serve on the Zoning Committee as the first female member of that body. She then served on the Danville Plan Commission. She was one of the first two women to serve as a Council member, representing Ward Six on the newly formed City Council in 1987. Before her election, she walked every block of Ward Six and attempted to meet every citizen who resided there. As a Council member from 1987 to 1993, she chaired the finance, personnel and public works committees. She also served on the Palmer Civic Center board. As a member of the board of the United Way of Danville, she was its first female board chairman. Nancy served on the Danville Area Economic Development Corp., United Samaritans Hospital board, Old National Bank board, and Peer Court. She chaired the D. A. C. C. Foundation board. Most recently, she had served on the board of the Lakeview College of Nursing, the Danville Library Foundation board, and was a member of the Danville Garden Club and HX Chapter, PEO Sisterhood. Nancy was among the first three women invited to join the Rotary Club in Danville. In addition, she worked on and solicited for numerous capital campaigns to improve the infrastructure of the community, including the Family YMCA, the Danville Junior College Building Fund, Salvation Army, American Red Cross, and the DACC Foundation capital campaign. Perhaps Nancys most lasting contribution to the city she loved was her leadership of the highly successful Bring the Dream Alive in 95 fundraising campaign to build Danvilles first new public library in 91 years. It was her stature as a community leader, her charm, and her business skills that enabled her to lead the highly successful campaign, which achieved its $1.5 million goal in an amazing four months time. Her devotion to our library was a natural outcome for the little girl whose parents had a reading hour in the parlor after supper each evening. Nancy became a lifetime voracious reader. Her community honored her years of service to Danville with the following awards: - First Citizen of Danville in 1997 from the American Business Club - People Making a Difference in 1994 from the Danville Area Economic Development Corporation - Women of Distinction in 1992 from the Green Meadows Girl Scouts - Woman of the Year in 1986 from the Business and Professional Women - Woman of Achievement in 1985 from the American Association of University Women Nancy enjoyed her Book Club and was an accomplished bridge player. She will be remembered by her many friends for her warmth, humor, generosity, loyalty, and her enthusiastic outlook on life. Nancy was devoted to her family and was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother. She leaves her cherished husband Curt and four loving daughters: Janet Siegfried (Kurt) of Golden, Colorado; Grace Ayers (Rocky) of Bloomington, IL; Nan Mettam (Jim Block) of Danville; and Julia Pickard (Craig) of Brentwood, Tenn. Her legacy will be carried on by her outstanding grandchildren Stephanie and Margot Shinn; Carolyn, Joshua and Sophia Ayers; Curt, Derek, and Mary Faye Pickard Her surviving sisters are Mary Widdis Wilson and Jean Widdis Reeve. She was preceded in death by sisters Helen Widdis-Melin and Nora Widdis Wells. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at St. Pauls Catholic Church with Father Greg Nelson officiating. A visitation will be from 4-7 pm Monday evening at Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center with a prayer service at 3:30 pm. Following the service, she will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that memorials may be made to the Danville Library Foundation, 317 N. Vermilion St. in Danville or St. Pauls Catholic Church 1303 N. Walnut St. in Danville. My life was blessed in the living, My death hallowed because of giving. Life to me was a challenge. I was happy so to live.