Kathleen M. (Sheatz) Fye

Kathleen M. Sheatz Fye of Knox passed away peacefully at the Purple Iris Assisted Living Center on March 7, 2026. Kathleen, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, was born in Van, PA, on January 21, 1926, the daughter of Guy L. Sheatz and Elsie M. Mitchell Sheatz.

Kathleen married her high school sweetheart, S. Leroy Fye, on September 14, 1946, at Grace Evangelical Congregational Church in Ninevah, PA. They were married for 71 years, until Leroy’s death in December, 2017. The couple especially enjoyed traveling in their RV and staying in their timeshare condos. Kay was navigator and trip planner. The couple traveled to 49 of the 50 states, only missing Alaska; they also visited Puerto Rico, Mexico, and several Provinces in Canada.

Until January of 2025, Kathleen, supported by loving family, continued to live in the couple’s home along Lake Marie Eileen in the Knox area. Her gray tiger cats Minnie and Joy provided hours of entertainment.

Being a Clarion State Teachers College graduate (BS-1963 and MEd - 1968), Mrs. Fye taught in the Oil City School District for twenty-five years from 1963 to 1988. Enjoying the challenge of change and professional growth, she taught all grade levels from Kindergarten through sixth, except for second grade. Standing at her tallest, Mrs. Fye stretched to a height of four feet, eleven inches; so, to compensate for the vertical challenge, she wore her hair in variations piled high. This was her signature style and one that is remembered by many today. She is also remembered for bringing 3rd and 4th graders to her home at the lake for a Friday night sleepover in the spring for fun in the country.

In earlier years, Kay enjoyed her time in the kitchen baking, cooking, and canning. After her retirement from teaching, the soup kitchen and clothing closet in Rockingham, NC, benefited from her expertise in culinary skills and organization for two years until her return to Knox.

Kay was an active PTA member when her children were in school and helped with 4-H activities.  She was a School Board Member for Keystone Area Schools in Knox. For decades she was an auxiliary member of American Legion Post #997 in Lamartine. Declaring her faith in Jesus Christ, Kay was an avid church attender and former deacon of Edenburg Presbyterian Church; most recently she was a member of Grace E.C. Church in Ninevah.

Kathleen is survived by her two children and their spouses: Tamalyn (Thomas) Goble and Dudley (Candy) Fye; her grandchildren and spouses: Jessica Goble (Brian Arena), Joshua (Deborah) Fye, and Abigail (Jeremy) Simcheck; and her great-grandchildren: Giovanna Arena; Nicholas, Mason, and Katelyn Simcheck; Matthew Corner, and McKenzie (Joshua)Farrell, and two great-great grandchildren, Lainey and Grace Farrell. She is also survived by her sister Roberta Rossman and sister-in-law Helen Sheatz (Bob Hartzell), along with many nieces and nephews.  In addition to her husband and parents, Kay was preceded in death by her granddaughter Judith Kathleen Fye, sister Ruby Keely, and brother Harry Sheatz.

The family wishes to express appreciation to the staff at the Purple Iris Assisted Living Center in Franklin and AseraCare Home Hospice for their kindness and compassion during Kathleen’s final year.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the McEntire-Weaver Funeral Home, Inc. of Knox. Services will be held at the funeral home, on Wednesday, March 11th, with visitation from 10:00-11:00 followed by the funeral service at 11:00.  The interment will be at Starr Cemetery in Ninevah. The family suggests memorial donations be sent to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, or any charity of personal choice.

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