Jeff and Nancy Meyer

Nancy (Padgett) and Jeff Meyer were both born and raised in Martin County. Nancy grew up in Bramble and Jeff just outside of Loogootee in the West Boggs Creek area. Both Nancy and Jeff can trace their family ancestry to the mid-1800s and some of the earliest settlers of Martin County, giving them a strong connection to the community.

Both graduated from Loogootee High School: Jeff in 1974 and Nancy in 1975. They started dating during high school and were married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bramble in 1978. After Jeff graduated from Ball State University in 1978, he had the opportunity to work for a company in Indianapolis, and they decided to relocate from Loogootee to Indianapolis after they were married. Their intent was always to return to Loogootee to be close to family and be a part of the community they loved. They didn’t know at the time it would be 36 years and seven corporate relocations before they would realize their dream to return. They were finally able to return to Martin County in 2014. Throughout all their years away, the values and life lessons they learned while growing up in Martin County were invaluable to them and helped keep them grounded. 

Once Jeff and Nancy returned to Loogootee and Martin County, they were grateful to find the community so welcoming. They quickly re-established local connections and become involved in the community making them feel like they had never left. It was so special that no matter where they went, they saw someone they knew, went to school with, or were related to. It was a different experience than they had become accustomed to while they were away. Though it was an adjustment to return to a small town after living in large metropolitan areas for many years, the one thing that became obvious to Jeff and Nancy was how warm and caring the community was and how everyone was always willing to contribute and support individuals and organizations that needed assistance. That caring attitude was something that was missing in the large cities where they lived over the years. It was inspiring to see how the people in Martin County truly cared about each other and their community and were always willing to help out wherever they could.

Jeff and Nancy’s parents instilled in them the need to give freely of their “time, talent, and treasure.” Their parents had lived by those words through their deeds and actions. Delores and Lester Padgett and Charlotte and Dale Meyer were very active in the community and contributed to the church and other local activities throughout their lives. Their example made a lasting impression that Jeff and Nancy would always remember and strive to live up to. After returning to Martin County, Jeff and Nancy searched for opportunities to give back to the community. While they had some success, they found it was difficult to identify all the various needs in the community and felt like they could and should do more. They became aware of the Martin County Community Foundation and thought that establishing a fund with the community foundation was an excellent way to contribute to the wider community. MCCF can readily adapt to real-life situations in the community that can change very quickly and ensure funds are directed to where they are most needed. The Jeff and Nancy Fund for Martin County is an unrestricted fund established to recognize and remember their parents’ and families’ legacies and to recognize their many contributions to the community over the years.