Shirley Megahee

Shirley Myers Frounfelter "Pearly" Megahee, who loved and nurtured thousands of students over more than 30 years at Manatee High School in Bradenton, Fla., died Dec. 7, 2015 surrounded by family after a valiant battle with cancer.
She was a vibrant and beautiful person whose caring heart knew no bounds. She entered many lives during her years and left us better off for it. The quick mind that was gentle but firm counsel to her students and served her so well in the classroom, stayed with her to the end.

Pearly was born at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD eighty-six years ago to Edgar Myers and Emma Zahn Frounfelter. She grew up in Westminster, MD and attended both St. Mary's College and University of South Florida studying Biology and English. She married Phillip Owen Megahee in 1949 and moved to Bradenton. She spent the rest of her life in the home where she raised her three daughters. After a brief stint as librarian at Manatee Community College, Shirley began teaching English grammar and literature at Manatee High, her sharp red pencil ever poised to correct the papers of legions of students.

Pearly, a 43-year breast cancer survivor, was an avid bridge player and gardener who devoted her retirement years to being a loving mother and grandmother. She loved reading, the beach, traveling, music, opera and watching tennis. She was a member of Retired Educators, American Association of University Woman, and Beta Sigma Phi, was active in Senior Olympics and traveled Europe as a chaperone for art students and the People to People Student Ambassador Program.

Sisters Ann Palmer, Catharine Viehman and Virginia "Timmie" Frounfelter preceded her in death. Surviving are daughters Sharon Lowrey and husband Brandon of Opelousas, LA, Barbara Megahee and husband Dudley Weems of Athens, GA, and Lisa Megahee and husband Roger Branit of Kansas City, grandchildren Ashleigh Bell and husband Michael, Lisa Soileau and husband Brent, Brooks Lowrey, Mariah Lowrey, Nate Weems and wife Anke, Karsen Weems, Mei Lin Branit and Jai Li Branit, great-grandchildren Emma Bell, Glenn and Ann-Elise Soileau and Lillian Lowrey and niece Kate Young.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Susan G. Komen Foundation or the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. A ceremony to celebrate Pearly's life will be scheduled this spring.