Sharon M. Conaway

Sharon M. Conaway

Sharon M. Conaway, 74 of rural Bellefonte, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, at Mt. Nittany Medical Center in State College. Born in Bellefonte on Jan. 29, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Willard M. McMurtrie and Margery (Thomas) McMurtrie of State College.

Sharon grew up in Coleville and attended the one room schoolhouses in Coleville and Bush Addition. She was a 1964 graduate of Bellefonte Area High School.

Sharon then attended Thiel College majoring in Spanish Language and Literature. She was a member of the CWENS, a freshman service honorary, Alpha Gamma Delta social sorority and Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish honorary.

Sharon graduated from Thiel in 1968 magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Language and Literature and having earned a certificate in Elementary Education.

Her early teaching experiences included first grade in a small town on Lake Ontario and fourth grade in Bennington, Vt.

While in Vermont, she had the opportunity to visit many schools to observe and compare innovative programs and teaching including the open classroom, multi-level grade classrooms, individualized progress and an ungraded individualized progress school.

She and her fourth-grade students in Vermont were part of an art education program which took them to the Williams College Museum in Massachusetts and the State Museum of Art in Albany, N.Y. for the children’s art education.

At the end of that year, she returned to Pennsylvania, where she taught in Penns Valley Area School District for 33 years. Her experiences with children in the classrooms included fourth grade, extended day kindergarten, and multi-level instruction in 4-6 in an open classroom setting.

In the early 80’s, Sharon earned her reading specialist certification at Penn State. She became a reading specialist in the Title I program in Penns Valley.

During her last years of teaching, she also served as a Coordinator of the Title I and Assessment and as an In-service Instructor for all elementary classroom teachers in reading instruction, curriculum and assessments. Sharon loved seeing children learn at all levels. She also enjoyed her work as In-service Instructor of teachers.

Early in her teaching years at Penns Valley, Sharon did Reading Hour for children in lower Penns Valley at the Aaronsburg Library. She also was a member of the Mid-State Reading Association, a chapter of the International Reading Association; The Keystone State Reading Association and Delta Kappa Gamma, serving as membership chair and president of that organization.

During the 70’s and 80’s, Sharon and her husband, Larry, enjoyed traveling and camping across the United States, which they did several times. They made their last trip across the northern US in the early 2000’s when they traveled with their son Matt in their motorhome. They traveled to many states in the US and to the provinces in eastern Canada.

In retirement, Sharon worked in the Centre County Association of School Retirees, serving as chapter public relations chair, chapter president-elect and chapter president. She enjoyed meeting with retired school employees in the county and she enjoyed attending the state convention and regional meetings of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees.

In addition to her work with CCASR, she worked as a member of the precinct’s election board, serving first as a worker and then as Judge of Elections for several years. For a period of time in retirement, she enjoyed weekly bowling.

Sharon is survived by her mother of State College; her husband, Larry, and their son, Matthew, both of Bellefonte.

She is also survived by two brothers, Mike McMurtrie and his wife, Genia, of Pleasant Gap and Bap McMurtrie and his wife, Deb, of State College; a niece, Jessica, of Pleasant Gap; and two nephews, Chris of Pittsburgh and Greg of Pleasant Gap, along with several great nephews.

Sharon is also survived by a loving family of cats which she cared for in retirement having trapped them as ferals and with the help of the Hundred Cat Foundation.

There are no services planned at this time for Sharon.

Memorial donations in Sharon’s memory can be made to the Hundred Cat Foundation, PO Box 10, Centre Hall, PA 16828 or to Pets Come First, 2451 General Potter Highway, Centre Hall, PA 16828

Arrangements have been entrusted to Daughenbaugh Funeral Home, Inc., 228 S. Pennsylvania Ave., PO Box 579, Centre Hall, PA 16828. An online guest book can be signed or condolences to the family available at www.daughenbaughfuneralhome.com.