Sharon A. Blair

ALLEGANY — Sharon A. Blair, age 81, went to be with the Lord on Friday (Oct. 3, 2025) at Olean General Hospital.

Sharon was born March 24, 1944, in Olean, to Douglas and Vesta Cross Cooney.

Sharon is survived by her beloved husband and travel partner, Philip Blair, whom she married May 8, 1964. The two celebrated their 61st anniversary this past May.

The couple share two children together, Thomas (wife, Michelle) Blair and Lora (husband, Cory) Alderman. She has three granddaughters, Tessa and Morgan Blair and Haylie Scheer; and three great-grandchildren, Oaklee, Bohen and Addilyn Scheer. Sharon has a sister, Eileen (husband, Dennis) Morgan; along with several nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Sharon is preceded in death by her father and mother; aunts; uncles; and multiple pets that often “wandered home” with her husband.

Sharon had many fond memories growing up “on the Five Mile,” noting that her father would refer to her as his “hired man” when she was young, as she often helped him on the family farm. She loved driving the tractor, which she learned to do at an early age. Sharon grew up with a close relationship with her cousins, who lived on the neighboring farm.

Sharon had many hobbies, which included playing basketball and roller skating, at which she was very skilled. She was a dedicated Boston Red Sox fan, which she shared with her father, which later evolved into her staying up until late at night to see them play.

Sharon graduated from Allegany High School in the year 1962 and went on to obtain her LPN from the Bradford (Pa.) area schools, where she met her husband Phil.

Phil and Sharon moved to North Chili for a short time, prior to returning to Allegany, where she accepted a job as an LPN at St. Francis Hospital in Olean. After the closing of St. Francis Hospital, she went on to work for the county as a scheduling coordinator for Home Health Care. She eventually accepted a position as a supervisor for an adult day care facility, the Brad Center, a division of Futures Rehabilitation Center, in Bradford, from which she eventually retired.

While residing on the Five Mile that she loved so much, she lived near her beloved family, where she raised her children.

Sharon’s hobbies included growing flowers, canning, reading, listening to instrumental music and clipping newspaper articles for her friends and family. She was very intrigued by obituaries and created binders for people she knew. Sharon loved traveling with her family, camping, snowmobiling and most recently watching her great-grandchildren play sports.

Sharon was known to keep everyone up to date with her daily phone calls to friends and family. She loved to splurge in what she thought were local delicacies, buying items for friends and family for special occasions which she never missed, usually with a card being sent in the mail as well.

Sharon was a devout Christian who was a lifelong member of Five Mile Baptist Church in Allegany. She was incredibly involved in the church and was proud of her relationships with the friends she made through the church.

Friends will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. today (Oct. 7, 2025) at the Casey, Halwig and Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 West State Road, Olean. A secondary viewing will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday (Oct. 8, 2025) followed by a funeral service from 11 a.m. to noon at the Five Mile Baptist Church, 3624 Five Mile Road, Allegany. The service will be officiated by Pastor Michael Sanders. Lunch will follow the service. Burial will be at the Five Mile Cemetery.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Five Mile Baptist Church at 3624 Five Mile Road, Allegany, NY 14706; or to Futures Rehabilitation Center Inc. at 1 Futures Way, Bradford, PA 16701.