Miriam A. Shawley, 97, of rural Port Matilda, died on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at the Fairways of Brookline in State College.
She was born on October 3, 1911 in State College, the daughter of the late John and Mabel (Hartsock) Meek.
She was married to Calvin W. Shawley, who preceded her in death in August of 1994.
Miriam was a graduate of State College High School where she was active in all sports. She was a graduate of West Chester Nursing School and served as a nurse and midwife in Buffalo Run Valley for many years.
She and her husband were well known farmers at Waddle where they received the Centre County Farmers Award in 1942. She was recognized for preserving more than one thousand quarts of food, which she did for many years.
In addition to her family and farm obligations, she cooked for the area Head Start Program and Meals on Wheels. She was one of the first to be involved in the Hot Meals Program for grade schools. She even was called upon to help at the school when a teacher had an emergency.
She was a member of the Grays United Methodist Church and the Port Matilda Garden Club, where she was an active member in her younger years.
She and her husband traveled throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, some of which was done in an RV or by AMTRAK. They especially enjoyed seeing Alaska where family lived in the 1920's. She was always ready to go on a trip and after her husband died, she spent the winters in Arizona and the summers in Pennsylvania. It was a sad day for her and her family when she had to leave her ancestral home in Waddle where she had lived most of her childhood and 60 years of married life.
Survivors include three daughters; Page Wilson of Mesa, AZ, Sue Allison Barr and husband David of Stormstown, and Tish Slagle and husband Terry of State College; one son, Bill Shawley of Bellefonte; nine grandchildren, Jack, Chuck, and Scott Wilson; Tana Wilson Stanton, Beth Wilson Parmenter, Gay Allison Weaver, Rand Allison, Tiffany Slagle Dygert, and Traci Slagle Krebs. Nineteen great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren also survive.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, James, Lee and Jack Meek.
Family will receive friends from 1:30 till 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2009 at the Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Services, 1034 Benner Pike, State College. Funeral Services will begin from the funeral home at 2:30 p.m. Interment will then follow at Centre County Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gray's United Methodist Church, 5687 Buffalo Run Road, Port Matilda, PA 16870 or to the Fairways at Brookline, 1950 Cliffside Drive, State College, PA 16801.
A guest book can be signed or condolences can be sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com