10/20/2017
Nancy (Simbro) Mecham, age 66, passed away Friday, October 20, 2017, in her home in Knoxville.
A Celebration of Nancy’s Life will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 28, 2017, at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, 2nd floor. Following Nancy’s remembrance, her family will be greeting friends and offering light refreshments. At 2:45 P.M. Nancy’s family will be concluding services with a remembrance walk at the Bessie Spaur Butterfly Garden.
Nancy was born on July 3, 1951, the third child of Gladys and Eugene Simbro. She was greeted by sister Millie and brother Kenneth. Together they were raised on a farm in Kellog and later moved to a farm in Knoxville. Nancy attended country school in Kellog and middle/high school in Knoxville. Growing up she enjoyed fishing, spending summers with her favorite cousins, and running around with the kids in the neighborhood.
Nancy married Gordon Mecham and she left the farm to join him in the Navy. She made many friends as she supported Gordon in his military career, became a mother, and lived in the big cities of Minneapolis and Chicago. After Gordon’s tour was over he joined the Navy Reserves and they were able to return home to Iowa where they had their third child. By the age of 21, Nancy was the mother of three: Julie, Jeff, and April.
Nancy and her family spent lots of time with her parents and extended family on the farm butchering beef and pork, playing pitch, snowmobiling, mushroom hunting, and fishing. Whether it was working or playing it was always a good time.
Once the kids got to be school age Nancy accepted a part-time job in the kitchen at the VA. She loved the people she worked with, and the Veterans. She never had any desire to do anything else and never minded a hard day’s work in her 22 years at the VA or otherwise.
Gordon and Nancy enjoyed dancing of all kinds everything from square dancing, two-stepping, jitterbug, and the waltz was in their repertoire. She would even join in the Chicken Dance with the grandkids. Nancy and Gordon were often admired for their great dancing skills and they were sure to pass the tradition on to their children and grandchildren.
There were annual camping trips with friends and family to the Old Threshers Reunion to see country western concerts and listen to bluegrass. During the years there were many more trips to visit their children who had joined or married into the military. Weddings were held and new members were added to the family.
As the grandbabies were born Nancy was standing by for her opportunity to spoil the new baby and take care of the new mom’s needs. As homes were built or remodeled she was ready to assist with a paintbrush or a broom. She was a meticulous housekeeper and organizer and she was always willing to lend a hand when moving day came.
Once the kids were grown Nancy had time to devote to her gardening hobby she was a member of the Pleasantville Garden Club and just recently joined the Knoxville Federated Garden Club. She cared for a plot at the Bessie Spaur Butterfly Garden and the plants in front of the Pleasantville memorial hall and city square for many years. This is in addition to caring for extensive gardens of her own.
Through the years she volunteered for the Pleasantville Fire Department, Pleasantville Library, Red Cross, and public gardens. Nancy was a big supporter of organ donation and her support only grew stronger after Jeff’s heart transplant and meeting the donor family.
Nancy retired at age 56. She and Gordon enjoyed the last 10 years to the fullest. She enjoyed working in her garden, attending water aerobics and Silver Sneakers classes, baking and making crafts with her grandkids to take to the fair, visiting with her mom, going to shows with friends, and attending the grandkid’s events.
She took many trips and Cruises over the years which she enjoyed very much. They visited many places including China, Hawaii, Alaska, Ireland, Scotland, Europe, and Destin, FL for spring break with family and many corners of the US.
Nancy enjoyed meeting new people on these trips about as much as the trip itself which is to say she loved it all.
Nancy loved her family and friends. She loved life and lived life to the fullest. She made many, many great memories that will last those of us who loved her for a lifetime.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Nancy’s memory at the Brooks Garden of Knoxville.