Sara May Burrows Coleman (Sally) of Erie, Pennsylvania, at St. Vincent Hospital on January 17, of complications from pneumonia and congestive heart failure. Predeceased by her husband, Homer F. Coleman, Sara was the daughter of Floyd N. Burrows and Floy A. McCune Burrows. Sally was born in Waterford, Pennsylvania on October 12, 1922 and graduated valedictorian from Youngsville High School, and then from Jamestown Business College and later received her BA from Penn State Behrend.

Sally is survived by her three children, Margaret A. Gilfus (Donald Massecar), Robert F. Coleman (Kathy Pierce), and William L. Coleman, as well as four grandchildren, Ashley C. Gilfus, Katherine K. Phifer (Daniel Phifer), Emily B. Coleman (Kirk Branstetter) and Kimberly S. Coleman. She is also survived by younger sister Sandra Sue Burrows Brown (Arnold D. Brown), as well as two nieces, three nephews, and three great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by older sister Eleanor Anne Burrows Shreve, younger brother John Rodger Burrows, and two infant brothers.

Sally was a descendent of Puritan Robert Burrows, who sailed from England in 1630 with Governor John Winthrop on the ship, Arabella. Setting in Salem, their Massachusetts Bay Company gave birth to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

A prolific reader, Sally loved books and was a member of several book clubs. She favored American history books focused on the U.S. Presidents. She supported the arts, playing violin in the Erie Chamber Orchestra and attending the Philharmonic and Erie Playhouse. She was both a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader. Sally was an incredibly engaged member of her community, and spent much of her life advocating for peace, social justice, environmental issues, and women's and homeless rights, as a member of the Lake Erie Coalition, League of Women Voters, and American Association of University Women. She was a tireless volunteer for over a decade at Erie’s Drop-In Center and delivered Meals-on-Wheels with her husband, Homer. Long-time members of the Erie Yacht Club, they both enjoyed sailing and ice boating with their family.

Calling hours are at Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., on Friday, January 20th from 2 to 4 p.m. with a short service at 4 p.m. Donations, in lieu of flowers, are appreciated to League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, 226 Forster St., Harrisburg, PA, 17102; Emmaus Soup Kitchen, 218 E. 11th St, Erie, 16503; or Planned Parenthood of Western PA, 933 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, 15222.

Sally and her family would like to thank the wonderful staff at St. Mary’s for their kindness during her stay and also special express thanks to the great team at St. Vincent’s ICU.

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