LEWISTON – Sharon Ann (Banks) Dawley, 56, of 72 Riverside St., Lewiston, died unexpectedly at her home on Friday, March 11.

She was born Sept. 15, 1948, in Lewiston, daughter of the late George and Helen (Peters) Banks.

She graduated from Lewiston High School in 1966, and went on to graduate from the University of Maine at Orono, with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1970.

On August 18, 1973, she married the love of her life, Dale Allen Dawley, and together they raised their beautiful daughter, Erin.

She has taught third grade at Martel Elementary in Lewiston for the past 34 years. She was well loved by the staff and students there, and was affectionately called the “matriarch” of the school.

She was a member of St. Joseph’s Church for many years, where she served as a eucharistic minister; she was also a member of the Lewiston Education Association, the National Education Association and the Maine Teachers Association. She was a loving wife and mother. She enjoyed going out to dinner with friends and family, and playing cards and cribbage, but above all, she loved teaching.

She is survived by Dale, her husband of 31 years, her daughter, Erin Dawley and fianc, Jeffrey Guire, of Baring; a brother, Thomas Banks of Lewiston; a sister-in-law, Linda Banks of Lewiston; several nieces, cousins, and close friends.

She was predeceased by her brother, John Banks.