Distinguished artist and well-known in art circles across the Midwest, Nan Sheets was born in Illinois and received a pharmacy degree from Valparaiso University in Indiana. She enrolled at the Broadmoor Art Academy in Colorado and exhibited her paintings at the Kansas City exhibitions for Midwestern artists and at art centers across the eastern United States. Most credited with establishing Oklahoma City’s art museum, she served as its director for almost thirty years until she retired in 1965. She remained active in art circles and was honored on numerous occasions for her talent and contributions toward “making Oklahoma City a cultural center.”