Shirley Jean Sargent, 91, of Harleysville, passed peacefully from this life into the loving arms of our Lord on September 4, 2023.  She was the beloved widow of R. Thomas Sargent, with whom she had shared 62 years of marriage.

Born August 6, 1932 in Kansas City, Missouri, Shirley was a daughter of the late Albert Lawrence and Ruth (Badgely) Hibbs.  She was preceded in death by her sister Nancy (Hibbs) Beasom.

Shirley was a 1950 graduate of Normandy High School, St. Louis, MO and a 1954 graduate of Southeast Missouri State College, Cape Girardeau, MO.  She received a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Physical Education along with her teacher's certification.  She followed her family when they moved east to Media, PA.    She taught Elementary Physical Education at Bala Cynwyd Elementary School.  She also taught at Eastern College in St. David's, PA.   After time as a homemaker and mom to her two children, Judi and Greg, she did return to teaching Phys. Ed. in Poquoson, VA while living in Newport News, VA for 7 years.  Upon returning from living in Seoul, South Korea she was a substitute teacher and then guidance secretary in North Penn School District, Lansdale, PA.

Shirley, along with Tom, owned Sargent's Candy Inc. from 1967-2013.  They made clear toy candy using antique molds and held historically authentic demonstrations for numerous schools, clubs and festivals.  This was a hobby that turned into a business and she enjoyed including her children and grandchildren in both production and sales.

She enjoyed participating in many activities and clubs including The Towamencin Chapter of DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), Lansdale Women's Club, Goshenhoppen Historical Society, Girl Scouts of America, American Red Cross, PIAA Track and Field Officiating and various tennis clubs, bridge clubs and Bible studies.   She very much practiced her teaching skills by sharing lessons about any athletic skill desired to the neighborhood children.  And she could name most any plant, seashell or bird seen along the many walks she enjoyed taking in nature.  Arguably her favorite hobby became supporting her 6 granddaughters at any of their various activities.  She would don their school colors and be right in the front row to cheer for them!

Shirley had the opportunity to live in Seoul, South Korea from 1976-1978 when her husband took a leadership position there with General Electric (GE).  It sparked a great interest in travel as they took their children extensively through South Korea as well as to vacation in the Asian countries of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan.  In their retirement Shirley and Tom continued their travels to five continents (North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia), and cruised multiple oceans.

Shirley is survived by her two children Judith L. Whitmire and her husband D. Kenneth Whitmire of Lederach, PA and Gregory T. Sargent and his wife Mary Kaye Sargent (Jones) of Yardley, PA. Also surviving are her six granddaughters: Bryn Horowitz (Jason Horowitz), Paige Valentik (John Valentik), Jillian Whitmire (Chris Tobin), Sara King (Kyle King), Olivia Sargent (Christian Kardish), Julia Sargent and three great grandchildren: Charlotte and Parker Valentik and Tate King.  She too is survived by her sister-in-law Helen Sargent, brother-in-law Ronald Beasom and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Shirley was a good friend to many.  She did enjoy entertaining although, as her close family knows, she actually did not enjoy cooking too much. But she certainly could "set the scene" with a beautiful tablescape and coordinating dinnerware.  No doubt her athletic prowess fit well with her competitive spirit.  She channeled her talent and personality into her life through her hobbies and unending support and cheering for family and friends.  And all knew she was an avid professional sports fan, always watching, following and knowing the scores and times for a multitude of sports with Tennis and the Philadelphia teams being her favorites.  Her competitive spirit and desire to remain independent served her well in recovering from various broken bone surgeries over the years.  Her final fight, that she faced with peace in knowing she would be reunited in heaven with her devoted husband and her Lord as well as the comfort being surrounded by her family and visits from dear friends, was with a very unexpected diagnosis of Stage IV Breast Cancer.  She passed peacefully with her son at her side.

A public service for Shirley will be held Thursday, November 2, 2023, with visitation from 4:30-7 pm and a memorial service at 7 pm at Williams-Bergey-Koffel Funeral Home, 667 Harleysville Pike Telford, PA.  A private service and interment will be held Friday, November 3, 2023, at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown, PA.

For those unable to attend, the service can be viewed by clicking HERE.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Towamencin Chapter of NSDAR (National Society Daughters of the American Revolution), www.towamencinpadar.org, The Salvation Army, www.savationarmyusa.org, or the Peter Becker Community Capital Fund, 800 Maple Ave. Harleysville, PA, 19438.