Obituaries

Brad Mettam, retired District 1 executive

Note: The following obituary appeared in the Lost Coast Outpost on Aug. 27.

Retired District 1 executive Brad Mettam died in Eureka on Aug. 6. He was 71.

Brad was born on November 12, 1952, in San Francisco to Ron and Dolores Mettam. On Oct, 16, 1976, he married Diane Yee and her son David became his son, too. On March 27, 1978, their daughter Jessica Joy was born.

Their family complete, Brad and Diane moved as their jobs demanded, living in San Francisco, Half Moon Bay, South Lake Tahoe, Dyer, Nevada and Bishop before finally relocating in Eureka, where Brad was the deputy district director for Planning and Local Assistance with Caltrans.

His office was always open to anyone needing help or advice. Upon his retirement he was presented with a resolution from the California State Legislature.

Prior to his carer with Caltrans, Brad worked with Esmeralda and Inyo counties seeking to impede the negative aspects of the proposed nuclear waste facility at Yucca Mountain, Nev. He served as chair of the Esmeralda County School District, and in Bishop he served as chairman of the Great Basin Air Pollution Control District Hearing Board.

Brad and Diane believed in sharing their blessings. While the children were school-age they coached soccer, led 4-H groups, taught dance, tutored students, and offered a temporary home to kids who needed a roof over their heads. They welcomed three AFS exchange students for various periods of time from Thailand, China and Norway. Brad and Diane served as soccer coaches in South Lake Tahoe. As a couple and a family, they did things together.

Brad served as Santa’s elf each year at the Bishop Christmas Parade, riding with Santa on the fire engine and helping with the children in line. Diane made his elf costume. Brad had a long affiliation with firefighting. He served as a volunteer firefighter in Half Moon Bay and South Lake Tahoe, and reorganized and served as Chief of the Fish Lake Valley Fire Protection District in Dyer, Nev.

Some time after settling in Bishop, Brad joined the local Rotary Club. He served in several offices before becoming president. He also became a member of the Paul Harris Society. When Brad and Diane moved to Eureka, Brad joined the Eureka Rotary Club and was again elected to serve as president. He remained active in Rotary until his death.

He was also a devoted church member, serving as the sound tech for the Eureka First United Methodist Church. He served a similar position at the Bishop First United Methodist Church, as well as keeping the books. When Diane was pastor at Pioneer Memorial United Methodist Church in Independence Brad ran the music system, proof-read and folded the bulletins, made sure there was a dish for the potlucks, and Diane had a clean robe and stole.

Brad and Diane loved animals, especially dogs, although there was a time when the family had seven sheep. For the past 45 years they had at least one rescue dog - at one time they had five. Lately they were always accompanied by Hannah, a bichon, and Jack, a miniature schnauzer. They also have a large feeder in their back yard to take care of the local birds and squirrels.