Sara Francis Shanks Mequet Galvin Obituary (1936 - 2018)

Memorial Service and Interment/ Date: Friday, April 27, 2018/ Time: 11:00 am/ Place: St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Conway, AR/ SARA FRANCIS SHANKS MEQUET GALVIN, 82, passed away peacefully 20 April 2018, Conway, AR. She was born 22 March 1936 in Batesville, AR, to Ella Myrl and Capp Frank Shanks, Sr. Both parents and brother, Capp Frank Shanks, Jr. predeceased her. She is survived by her sons, Kevin Dobson Mequet and Francis [Frank] Edward Mequet, and daughter, Amanda Denise Mequet. Graduating from Batesville High School a year early as valedictorian, she matriculated at Hendrix College, Conway, AR. Upon graduation from Hendrix, she received a Ford Foundation graduate scholarship to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. In 1958, having earned a Masters of Education, she began her teaching career at Central High School, Little Rock, AR. That school year was called "The Lost Year". Since no students attended, the faculty taught each other that year. In Little Rock she met and married Ed Mequet. A son, Kevin, was born before they moved to Jefferson City, MO, where two more children were born. In 1964 they moved to Los Angeles, CA, where she had a productive and noteworthy career spanning 36 years teaching for the Long Beach Unified School District. At Rogers and Jefferson Junior High Schools, and Wilson High School, she collected numerous friends and made a difference in the lives of all her students and is remembered fondly to this day. She shone as a dynamic and charismatic teacher. In 1984 she married Glen Richard Galvin. She often joked that she inherited Glen from her best friend, Ida Parsons! Their happy marriage was interrupted by Glens untimely death in 1993. After her parents deaths by a car-versus-train accident in 1998 Sara decided to retire in Conway. Sara garnered numerous citations of excellence for her work as TALB President, Faculty President, LBUSD Faculty Liaison, LA County, and the of State of California. She was an avid appreciator of the arts and a voracious reader. Her home remains filled with books. She loved to entertain friends at her house and a dinner invitation was a special event. Sara participated in PEO, The Twentieth Century Club, and Shakespeare Club. She also campaigned with vigor for Democratic candidates, both local and national. In 2005 her son, Kevin, returned home to provide longterm healthcare. For 13 years he provided loving care to enhance her lifespan. Saras enthusiasm, wit, verve and intelligence delighted those who were with her. Her steadfast faith in God was inspiring. She will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to FUMC Conway or St. Peters Episcopal Church Food Pantries. Her memorial and interment will be at St. Peters this Friday, 27 April 2018, 11am. Find an online guestbook to share and read the memories of those she loved: https://www.rosewoodcremation.com/obituaries