TRAVIS, Sharon J.

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, January 07, 2012 Sharon J. Travis Family and friends are mourning the loss of Sharon J. Travis. She died peacefully at her home in Cheverly, Md., on Dec. 26, 2011, at age 71 after a courageous battle with neuroendocrine cancer. Sharon was born in Prescott, Ariz., on Dec. 7, 1940, to William Bliss Travis and Dorothy Sarah (Day) Travis. She grew up in Prescott and graduated from Prescott High School in 1958. She attended the University of Arizona where she was awarded a bachelor's degree. In the mid-1960s, Sharon moved to Maryland where she had a distinguished 30-year career as an analyst/manager with the National Security Agency, an intelligence arm of the Department of Defense. After her retirement from the National Security Agency in 1994, she directed her energies and abilities toward making significant contributions to her community. She revitalized Meals on Wheels of Cheverly and served as its president for 10 years. She coordinated and managed the delivery of many thousands of meals to elderly and disabled residents of her county. She also was actively involved in volunteer work with Friends of the Bladensburg Library. She designed and planted beautiful gardens for the library grounds and helped raise money to pay for summer children's programs. Her leisure time activities included travel, reading, gardening, bird- and butterfly-watching, walking on the beach on Jekyll Island, staying at her cabin in West Virginia, hiking the C & O Canal, and walking the household dog. Sharon is survived by brothers William and Warren; sisters Barbara Marin, Mary Mellin and Dorothy; many nieces and nephews; and longtime housemates Carolyn Cornelius and Mary Toborg. She was preceded in death by her brother, George and sisters Nancy Sparks and Marjorie. Burial is private. Send condolences to Gasch's Funeral Home, www.gaschs.com. Information provided by survivors.