Susan Elaine (Taylor) Sherwin, 73, passed away Sunday, February 14, 2016, after battling brain cancer.

She was born April 22, 1942, in Erie, to the late Lewis Earl and Margaret (Kline) Taylor.

She graduated from Academy High School in 1960 and went to work for General Telephone, where she met Robert Sherwin, who would become her loving husband of 40 years.

After raising her children, she returned to work for McDowell Intermediate High School, rising to the position of Building Secretary, where all would agree she made the place run. With her organizational and people skills, she could not join an organization without being asked to run it, and served in leadership positions with Presque Isle Women's Club, Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, and Simpson Cascade United Methodist Church, where she was a lifelong member. She also helped found the Schoolhouse Craft Festival.

She was passionate about music, serving as volunteer director of the Simpson choir for 25 years, and was a season ticket holder for the Erie Playhouse and Philharmonic. She was a talented rose gardener, a voracious reader, and a connoisseur of good dry Riesling, which she loved to share with friends.

Preceded in death by her husband, Susan is survived by son Robert Jr. (Mary) of Liverpool, N.Y.; and grandchildren Adam, Olivia and Julia; daughter Lynne (Marc Bona) of Akron, Ohio; sister Sandra (John) Nelson of Erie; and companion George Towns.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Merle E. Wood Funeral Home, Inc. Friends may call at the Brugger Funeral Homes and Crematory, 1595 West 38th St., at Greengarden Boulevard, with visiting hours on Thursday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Further visiting will be at the Simpson Cascade United Methodist Church, 2113 Sassafras St., on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service there at 11:00 a.m. Online condolences may be offered by visiting www.merlewoodfh.com

Burial will be in Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Simpson Cascade United Methodist Church, 2113 Sassafras St., Erie, PA 16502, or to the music organization of your choice.

Published in the Erie Times-News on Feb. 17, 2016