Obituary: Edward Sheridan

Edward Dennis Devoy Sheridan, named after his great grandfather, Edward Devoy, was born in Saint Louis, Missouri on June 14, 1940. He and his older brother, Philip III, were raised in Ferguson, MO by his parents, Alice H. and Philip Sheridan. He went to the Ferguson-Florissant Public Schools and was active in high school band, track and stage crew for theater. He was raised Catholic and attended Sts. John and James Church.

Going to college for one year at Southern Illinois University, quitting and working five years he returned to the University at both their campuses in Alton and Edwardsville, IL. He received his B.A. in History and M.S. in Education. While in college, he helped to develop the Slavic Languages and Historical Reference Library at the Edwardsville campus.

He taught history in Alton and Roxanna, Illinois high schools and worked weekends as the manager of Stouffer’s Hotel in downtown Saint Louis. Throughout this time, he travelled the United States, Central America and spent five months in Europe.

Moving to Stuart, Florida, Edward taught for the Martin County School District and was the first principal of the then new Murray Middle School. He later worked in the Central School District Office. On March 14, 1971, while in Florida, he met his future wife, Elizabeth Anne Riley of Peewee Valley, Kentucky. They had their first date on April 14, he proposed on May 14, and they were married on July 3, 1971. The wedding was held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Louisville with Episcopal and Catholic priests officiating. The couple lived in Sewells Point, Florida for 20 years. The love of their life, Allison Hite Sheridan, was born on April 22, 1979 in Miami, FL.

In 1990, the family moved to Winter, Wisconsin with Ed as the K-12 principal in the Winter School District. He later became superintendent until retiring in 2002. Ed was a well-respected and impactful educator and adored the students he worked with at every age level. Liz was an educator at Stuart Middle School and South Fork High School in Florida, and in Wisconsin an educator at Mount Senario College, principal at Colby Middle School, and after Ed’s retirement was a superintendent in Winter. After 42 years of devotion to each other, Liz passed away in her sleep on February 14, 2014 at their beloved “lake house” in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Upper Michigan.

Ed enjoyed travelling all over the world with Liz and Allison visiting museums and forts, being with friends and family, model railroading and stamp collecting. Ed and Liz’s daughter went on to Iowa State University (Ames, IA) earning her master’s and now works for the University Museum there. Ed was looking forward to moving permanently to Ames, Iowa this year, volunteering, gardening and future travel adventures.

Edward died in his sleep on evening of January 13, 2019 at his house on Lake Superior in the Keweenaw, U.P. of Michigan. His cremains will be interred next to his beloved wife in the Peewee Valley Cemetery, Peewee Valley, Kentucky during a memorial service to be planned for early April.

He is survived by his pride and joy, daughter Allison Hite Sheridan (Christopher Conklin) of Ames, Iowa, three beloved nieces in the Boston area, Julie Amichetti, Holly Pritchard, and Heather Sheridan, cousins and many great friends.

In lieu of flowers, please direct any donations in Edward’s memory to University Museums, Iowa State University, 290 Scheman Bldg., Ames, IA 50011.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com.

The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements