Sheila Thompson Emery

  Sheila Ann Thompson Emery died peacefully at her home in Columbus, New Mexico on July 9th after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Kenneth Emery, her husband of 63 years was by her side. Sheila had turned 85 three days prior.

  Born in Nashua, NH on July 6, 1935, Sheila was the daughter of Fritzroy and Marjorie Thompson.  In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her brother Howard Thompson of Florida and sister Martha Cheney of Georgia.

 In 1957, Sheila graduated with a B.Ed. in Education from Plymouth State Teacher’s College where she met her husband Ken. They soon moved to Arizona where Sheila gained her Masters in Education from Northern Arizona University. Returning to the East Coast, Sheila and Ken eventually settled in Syracuse where Sheila continued her teaching career as a remedial reading specialist at Grant Junior High (later Grant Middle School), retiring from Syracuse Public Schools in 1994 after 30 years of service in public schools. Devoted to her students and colleagues alike, Sheila prized her role in education and was known for her diligence and passion.

 Retiring to New Mexico, Sheila continued her life-long love of learning as an avid reader, but also enjoyed life as an art enthusiast, gardener, bird-watcher, volunteer and inveterate letter correspondent to her many friends in Syracuse and beyond.

 A remarkably spirited and vivacious woman, Sheila will be missed for her effervescence, thoughtfulness and kind-hearted determination to improve the lives of others.

 In addition to her husband, Ken, Sheila is survived by her four children, Peter Emery and wife Janine of Farmington, NM, Holly Emery and partner Theo Kubalek of San Jose, CA, Sasha Duffy and husband Douglas of Santa Fe, NM and Andrew Emery of Roslyn, WA.  Sheila was grandmother to seven and a great-grandmother to twelve. Remembrances may be made in Sheila Emery’s name at the Parkinson’s Foundation www.parkinson.org or the Parkinson Research Foundation www.parkinsonhope.org

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