Jeff & 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. 

Kenny, Ruth, Kent, & Scot Greenwell

Growing up in Loogootee and being part of a farm family, Kenny Greenwell admired good citizens and family members who always seemed to be giving.  Some of these good citizens had large families but still found time to give back to their community.  After volunteering on a couple of fund drives at Loogootee St. John Catholic Church, Kenny started focusing on “time, talent or treasure” as three ways of giving.

Kenny remembers community leaders and his uncles and aunts volunteering in various organizations.  His father Pat, owner of Greenwell Hardware, used to support needy citizens by giving them small loans until they got their monthly check or paycheck.   His brother Keith later owned the store and then became a St. Vincent DePaul member to help others. Other family members always contributed their “time, talent or treasure” to the community.  Kenny recalls the effort to establish the Loogootee Industrial Park and family donations to that fund to revitalize the old brickyard property.

Kenny has admired the Martin County Community Foundation and the individuals and families who have established endowment funds as memorial remembrances or pay it forward donations.  The Greenwell’s were one of the original five-year donors to the Loogootee Basketball Family Scholarship Fund lead by Jack and Rita Butcher as well as donors to other funds.  The honorary funds tell wonderful stories; some are good stories resulting from tragedy.

Ruth worked locally in Martin County and was Administrator of Popular Valley Nursing Center, now Martin County Nursing Center.  She has used her social work and management talent in volunteer work at Red Cross, as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, and addiction support.  She also volunteers at libraries.  One of her proud moments was giving a homeless veteran a temporary home, seeing her prosper and make it on her own.

Kenny, a U. S. Navy Veteran, spent most of his career at the Crane Naval Support Activity.  Roughly half of the Martin County land is occupied by the U. S. Navy.  Kenny supported the preservation of history at Crane, is a Board Member/Director at Crane Credit Union and has served as an ambassador for government projects.  He is a member of several military and civic organizations.  Kenny also considers himself a renegade volunteer since he strives to provide homes for people who do not qualify for bank loans.  After reaching the age for 401K required minimum distributions and seeing the potential for Lilly Endowment Gift matches, he discussed the benefits with family members.  The results are one unrestricted fund and one donor advised fund. Both got a big boost from the Lilly Endowment Gift VII Initiative.

Kent Greenwell has been active in church, Knights of Columbus, and community organizations in West Lafayette.  Scot has always been a time and talent giver in community theatre and now supports many productions in the Indianapolis area.  Having them as participants in the donor advised fund will encourage continued involvement in family philanthropy.

The Kenny and Ruth Greenwell Family Fund was established as an unrestricted fund so that board members could always choose to support areas of greatest need.  The KKS Greenwell donor advised fund was established so the family can support specific, qualified non-profit entities.  Both funds have benefited from the Lilly Endowment Gift VII and accept donations.

Sarah (Bowling) Fuhrman

When Sarah (Bowling) Fuhrman entered Kindergarten at Loogootee Elementary School, she was joined by an extraordinary group of classmates.  Sarah, who was born with cystic fibrosis, quickly bonded with her classmates and was accepted and loved.  On May 24, 2005, Sarah passed away at the age of 22.  The lessons learned from knowing Sarah are remembered and cherished by her friends and family.

The life lessons learned by the Loogootee High School Class of 2001 were in part impacted by having Sarah amongst them.  One of the results of the relationships that were forged is the “Sarah Bowling Fuhrman Memorial Fund for Youth” endowment at the Martin County Community Foundation, founded by five of her friends to provide classroom grants to their alma mater as well as to establish a permanent legacy to Sarah.  These friends were Sarah’s classmates and closest friends: Andrea (Sorrells) Huff, Jessica (Davis) Sheetz, Ashly (Erler) Fisher, Sarah (Graber) Knepp, and Stacy (Mathias) Sickbert. One day they sat down to share memories of what it was like knowing Sarah from an early age, growing up with her, and how knowing her impacted them.

Ashly recalled an early memory of Sarah.  “In third grade, I asked Sarah what was ‘wrong’ with her and she looked at me and said ‘I have a disease call cystic fibrosis, but if you can’t say that, then say ‘sixty-five roses.’  To me, explaining a disease that is so serious can be a hard thing to do, but Sarah found a way to make it sound ‘ok,’ like she did so many times in her life.”

Sarah defined herself and her life in a remarkable way by living an active and vibrant life. She was involved in Dance, Lionettes, Student Council, and Twin Rivers medical careers.  She continued on to graduate from high school, go to college, become a pharmacy technician, attend Vincennes University’s nursing program, plan a wedding and get married.  Sarah was a wife, daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend.

She was a perfect example of making the most of life.  “You could always count on her for a laugh.  Her sweet, charming, loving personality earned her the title of ‘Miss Personality’ from her senior class,” said Sarah Knepp.  Andrea added, “She was fun-loving, and I think she inspired many of us around her to achieve and look at life as a most precious thing, and that is a lesson many people never have the opportunity to learn.”  This was especially true for those who had the opportunity to really know her.  Stacy expressed this when she said, “She taught us to love life, and we treasure that lesson.”

God never gives us anything we cannot handle.  Sarah proved that to her friends by living her life with cystic fibrosis with more grace, style, spunk, and dignity than ever expected.  “She did such a wonderful job of this that it was difficult for us to comprehend how sick she really was,” expressed her friends.  “We never fully understood that Sarah would pass away.  We thought she would live forever, and in our hearts and through this endowment, she does.”  Jessica noted that “Sarah was the bravest person I’ve ever met. Nothing, and no amount of money, will bring Sarah back to us.  But by establishing this endowment we know she will be remembered, and her story will become a legacy to her, Sarah, our friend.”

Many times when someone is terminally ill, the disease or sickness defines who they are.  In most stories, there is a defining point for the individual and those who love them, when destiny becomes reality.  So many times the things that we wish to do and the goals we hope to achieve are just a dream to those whose lives must end so hastily.  In the end, most people find that the feelings of loss are consoled in knowing that all along, the day would come for a person, like Sarah, to leave.

But this story has a twist to it.  Sarah’s friends came to know her before they knew cystic fibrosis.  They came to know, in full, Sarah’s hopes, dreams, goals, happiness, sadness, laughter, love, passion, joy, tears, and interests.  They saw first-hand what made her heart glow and the intensity which she brought to every day.  As they grew, they saw her hopes, dreams, goals, and interests become a reality.  Growing is a learning experience filled with the good and the bad of every situation.  As a team, the friends walked through every open door that life handed them with the determination of a child.  Although the inevitable was stated many times, it wasn’t a reality.  Sarah defined cystic fibrosis; the disease did not become her, yet she became the disease.  She did what she said she was going to do with a smile on her face and a passion so big.

Sometimes in life, the body is weaker than the soul.  This is true in many different ways.  Whether someone has a heart full of intentions that never get met, or someone never getting the courage to do something they have always wanted to do.  Sarah was a different story.  She had, and demonstrated, the courage to take the world by the hand.  Sarah beat the disease on her own terms.

How this story ends isn’t really an ending at all, yet an open door.  Just as the group of friends carried each other through good and bad for all those years, the five still carry Sarah with them.  This touching story began as a journey of six girls coming together and forming a bond that would last a lifetime and continues on as just that.  The girls say “Thank you Sarah, for allowing us to be a part of your life.”

Vince & Dorothy Williams

Vince and Dorothy Williams were active members of the Martin County community their entire lives.  They were united in marriage, raised their children, and made significant contributions in Martin County by participating in many different community endeavors.  Vince passed way in 1995, followed by Dorothy in 2002.

Their daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Les Lorey of Jasper, made a decision to remember both Vince and Dorothy in an exceptional and lasting way.  In 2003, they established the Loogootee Public Library Fund endowment, held by the Martin County Community Foundation, in memory of Vince and Dorothy.

The Loogootee Public Library was an important element in the lives of this couple, especially in Dorothy's life after Vince passed away.  When informed about the new endowment fund, library board members remarked on what an appropriate memorial this was for this special couple, and how beneficial this act of generosity by Barbara and Les will be to the library and community.

Vince and Dorothy’s character and community contributions made an imprint in the lives of friends and the community around them.  Vince was a charter member of the Library Board and was one of the first nine members of the Friends of Loogootee Library. He also served on the first Executive Council.  Vince was described as a very humble, down-to-earth person with multiple interests and talents.

Dorothy was characterized by her friends as having a beautiful heart and being a decent lady with high morals.  It was her grandmother who helped and encouraged her love of reading.  Dorothy’s interest in the library began during those early years when she immersed herself in books.  For many years she had a vision of what the Loogootee library could be.  The efforts of Dorothy and one of her friends, Mae Stuffle, who shared her vision, became a stabilizing force that kept people “up instead of down” as they continued throughout their lives to always walk with integrity, honor, and virtue.

Thanks to Barbara and Les, these wonderful memories of Vince and Dorothy will live on through the Loogootee Public Library Fund that will continue to help the library for many years to come.

Wendell Bough

In 2008, the family of the late Wendell Bough honored Wendell’s memory by establishing a family legacy that will help provide for future charitable needs in Martin County.  Wendell’s wife Dorothy, granddaughter Heather Bough, and his daughters Sharon Hillenburg, Janice Jeffers, Kathryn Lythgoe, and Karen Murray, established the Wendell Bough Family Fund, an unrestricted fund with the Martin County Community Foundation.

Wendell was a man who loved his family and county.  He loved to help youth and would often sponsor awards for 4-H organizations like the Horse and Pony Club. Wendell valued generosity and making memories with his family, especially his grandchildren.  “Dad tried to get all the grandkids to call him Pretty Papaw,” recalls daughter Karen.

Dorothy, now deceased, remembered Wendell’s fondness for gardening and his tomatoes that were famous among friends and neighbors.  “He always got complemented on how good his tomatoes were.  I think that’s what he liked best about growing them.”

Karen recalled how the Bough family would shop during the holidays.  “Dad never liked the shopping part much, but we all liked the time we were able to spend together.  He always said he thought money at Christmas could be spent on better things than presents.  We figured since we were grown and already buy what we want during the year, the money we used to spend on presents could go to honor Dad and serve the needs in the county.”

Wendell passed away on May 3, 2001.  By establishing the Wendell Bough Family Fund, the Bough family has honored Wendell’s memory.  As an unrestricted fund, the dollars generated by the endowment are flexible and will be forever used to address needs in Martin County as they arise.   What a nice way to remember “Pretty Papaw.”

Wilma Bateman

Wilma Bateman lived in Loogootee, Indiana, all her life, graduating from St. John High School in 1955.  Though Wilma had a competitive nature, she didn’t participate in athletics growing up as, at the time, St. John offered no competitive sports for female athletes.  Nevertheless, Wilma’s competitive spirit played a distinct role in her well-lived life.

Shortly after graduation, Wilma married Jim Bateman.  Jim and Wilma raised six children, all of whom were involved in sports while attending Loogootee High School.  Wilma got no greater pleasure in life than watching her children compete in sports from grade school through high school.  As an adult, Wilma finally had the opportunity to compete in tennis and golf leagues winning many trophies along the way.

It was her love of tennis that was passed down to the two youngest of their children, Samantha and Chris, who became quite accomplished in their own rights at Loogootee High School.  Chris was a standout on one of the best Loogootee tennis teams in its history. Samantha had an outstanding career at LHS and was awarded a four-year scholarship to play tennis at Kentucky Wesleyan College.  In so doing, Samantha was the first LHS tennis player to play the sport in college.  Wilma’s love of tennis was also passed on to three of her granddaughters, all of whom played tennis at LHS.

Later in life Wilma picked up a golf club and fell hard for the sport.  She played every day she could until her passion was interrupted by a diagnosis of lung cancer in 2005.  Though her doctors gave her only 12-18 months to live, her love of life was so strong she lived for five years after her diagnosis.  While her disease slowed her down, she continued to play golf when she could.  In fact, just two months prior to her passing, she captured the Senior League Golf Championship at the Lakeview Golf Course at West Boggs.

The Wilma L. Bateman Memorial Scholarship was established to honor Wilma’s memory and to provide a legacy to help young female athletes in whatever their college aspirations may be.