Hope Mcgeary

Hope A. “Sandy” McGeary, age 92, of Erie, died on November 6th, 2015 at ForestView. She was born on September 13, 1923 in Tonawanda, NY to the late Col. John and Evelyn West Ayrault.

Hope graduated from Evanston Senior High School and McMurray College with a BA in physical education. She taught physical education at Allegheny College and St. Mary’s School in Richmond, VA and was an equestrian camp counselor for several years. Upon moving to Erie, she taught horseback riding both at Townline Stables in Fairview and across Erie County from 1958 into the late 1980s. She was one of the founding members of the PA Arabian Horse Association and was a large R horse show judge, having judged the Arabian Nationals more than once in the years before her retirement. She was recognized by them with the Ambassadors Award in 1984. She also spent time teaching at Erie Business Center where she was Vice President.

She was active at Wayside Presbyterian Church as well as both the Pennsylvania and International Arabian Horse Associations, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Symphonic Singers of Erie. She was a charter member of the West Erie County Kiwanis. She also had her private pilot’s license. She enjoyed sketching, singing, writing poetry, and sailing with her husband and friends.

In addition to her parents, Hope was preceded in death by her sister Evelyn W. Ayrault.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years Charles P. McGeary; two sons: Christopher (Janice) McGeary of Pittsburgh and David McGeary of Pittsburgh; a daughter Deborah (Samuel) McCaughtry of Waterford; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Friends are invited to call on the family on Tuesday November 10th from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc, 602 W. 10th St. Services and burial will be private in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1128 State St., Suite 301, Erie, PA 16501.