Elsie A. Scharton

Elsie Ann (Miller) Scharton, 77, of Omaha, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on September 24, 2024, after a gradual dementia-related decline. She was preceded in death by her parents: Fred and Esther Miller; grandson: Jack Knight; older brother: Jerry Miller; granddaughter: Aarika Osmondson; older sister: Lois Covault. Survived by her husband of 56 years: Terry Scharton; children: Jason (Pamela) Scharton, Megan (Daniel) Barnhart, Abby (Jeremy) Mutrux; 10 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild plus one on the way; brother: Bernie (Kay) Miller; and a host of other loving family and friends.

Elsie was born on December 4th, 1946, as the youngest of four children, and created cherished memories (and even better stories) living on Apple Street in Lincoln, before moving to Ralston, where she was popular in high school, involved in the Pep Club, and voted homecoming queen.

In 1965, she started at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with the goal of becoming a teacher, and soon met her future husband, Terry, at the Abel-Sandoz Snack Bar. They were married in May of 1968, but their newlywed lives were interrupted within months, as Terry was called to serve in the Army. Elsie chose at that time to put a hold on her education to volunteer and work full time.

After Terry’s tour of duty completed, they moved back to Lincoln, purchased a home and started a family. Caring for their children – Jason, Megan, and Abby – kept her busy, but she still found time to serve her passion by volunteering at libraries and elementary schools, inspiring children with the love of reading.

In 1984, the family relocated to Omaha, and soon, with the children growing up and in school, Elsie decided to finish her own education. Graduating with her degree in elementary education, she started as a substitute teacher with the Omaha Public Schools, and found a full-time home at Harrison Elementary School (Go Tigers!), scoring her dream job as a third-grade teacher. In 2004, the Harrison community recognized her commitment to students and flooded the Buffet Foundation with recommendation letters. The Foundation agreed, and she was awarded an Alice Buffet Outstanding Teacher Award – an accolade for which she was completely humbled.

During her 20-year tenure, she proved herself to be a devoted and dedicated educator to her students, and a productive and generous member of the staff. She retired in 2012 and looked forward to spending time with her family, her flowers and birds, and her West-Highland Terriers, Gus and Gracie. Unfortunately, the insidious onset of dementia slowly began robbing her of the richness of retired life. In 2021, it was necessary for Elsie to be placed into a memory care facility, and further decline found her in hospice where she eventually passed peacefully on September 24th, 2024.

She will be remembered as a “Strong Miller Girl”, actually able to “make a silk purse from a sow’s ear,” dedicated to her family and students. A full life and well-lived.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family for later designation via Roeder Mortuary, Inc. – 108th Street Chapel, 2727 N 108th Street, Omaha, NE, 402-496-9000.