Emily Eanswythe Custer Meter passed away peacefully, surrounded by friends, on Dec. 14, 2009. She was born on March 11, 1935 to Dorothy and Howard Custer in San Jose, CA. During her childhood she lived in Northern California, Greenbelt Maryland, and Wisconsin.
She met her future husband Donald Meter at the Channing-Murray House at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the two were married in 1961 at the First Unitarian Society of Madison. The church was special to Emily because she had been one of the volunteer stone-haulers who helped construct the Frank Lloyd Wright designed building.
Emily was a member of the Civil Air Patrol during high school in Madison, WI and later attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She earned a Masters in Public Health Nursing from George Williams College. As a registered nurse specializing in public health, she worked with families in Wisconsin, California, New Jersey, and Illinois, and served as a paramedic in Park Forest South, IL.
She enjoyed reading, gardening, camping, birding, canoeing, swimming, eating dessert first, and she especially loved traveling to see family and friends. Emily is survived by son Eric Meter of Columbus, OH; son and daughter- in-law Glenn Meter and Jenifer Welch of Austin, TX; brother and sister- in-law Godfrey Peter and Heidi Custer of Soldiers Grove, WI; brother and sister-in-law Gregory Eric “Sandy” and Jean Wells Custer of Mequon, WI; brother-in-law Kenneth Meter of Minneapolis Minnesota; friends and caregivers Diane and Staci Sue Banta; many other family members and friends with whom she kept in close touch; and her extended family at the North Shore Unitarian Church.She was preceded in death by her husband Donald Meter. Emily’s memorial service and 75th birthday celebration was held on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at the North Shore Unitarian Church in Deerfield, IL. Contributions may be made to the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., or the Oglala Lakota College, Nursing Department in Kyle, SD (in the Black Hills, one of the places which she loved).