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Jane Ann McCall Sheaffer, 79, of Millerstown, passed away on Dec. 27, 2023, while visiting her daughters in Philadelphia. Jane was born on April 10, 1944, in Lewistown to Harold McCall and Esther Frew McCall. She was a late addition to the small family. Her only sibling, Harriet (14 years her senior), excitedly welcomed her new little sister.
Jane was a 1962 graduate of Lewistown High School. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with honors from Bloomsburg University. Jane's first teaching job was with Head Start; a program she returned to work with later in her teaching career in addition to many years of substitute teaching at Greenwood and Newport Elementary Schools. Encouraging education and teaching were important to Jane. In her own words "Any outstanding educator must possess various important qualities. Among those qualities are kindness, fairness, intelligence, and creativeness." These are qualities that Jane possessed and that guided all facets of her life.
Jane was very active in the Millerstown community for more than 50 years. As President of the Greenwood School Board, Jane was instrumental in the decision to build a new elementary school in 1980. While this was a controversial event within the community, Jane felt strongly that it would improve the academic opportunities for all kids, even as it led to some challenges and disagreements with friends and neighbors. She served as a Brownie Troup leader, was an active member of the Civic Club and of the Millerstown United Methodist Church and volunteered with Meals on Wheels to name a few dimensions of her volunteer work.
Jane was a proud Democrat and enjoyed working as a elected official at the polls in Millerstown for decades. She was disappointed in herself if she forgot one voter's name from year to year. Jane was outspoken in her values, always friendly, and would chat up anyone, anywhere (sometimes to the embarrassment of her daughters). She loved the beach, especially trips to the Topaz Motel in Wildwood Crest with her sister and niece. She never met an animal she didn't love, sharing that love and compassion with her family and friends. Jane sent cards to everyone she knew (and folks she hardly knew) for every event. She read the Lewistown Sentinel daily, cutting out articles to be shared with those she thought would enjoy them. She loved card club as a substitute player in several clubs where she enjoyed many evenings without ever needing to host (a running joke). She liked to attend Greenwood sporting events and Temple University football games, cheering extra loudly.
Jane will be greatly missed by her surviving daughters Dawn Sheaffer and Heather Sheaffer (Bill Clark) of Philadelphia; grandson Ian Skahill; sister Harriet Yoder (James Yoder) and niece Denise Price of Lewistown; cousin, Darlene Martz of Newport and many other family and dear friends. She also left behind her cats and a multitude of raccoons and opossums born and raised on her cats' food.
Jane had an incredible sense of humor and was able to laugh in nearly every situation. At her request, her daughters and family will host an ice cream party in the Spring to celebrate her life and her love of all things sweet.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jane's honor can be made to Temple Cats (a feral cat organization). Mailing address: Temple Cats, 576 Pewter Drive, Exton, PA 19341 or to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at lbda.org/donate.