Sadie Sorge, teacher, 83

Sadie Sorge of Vashon died in Seattle Feb. 7, 2002. She was 83 years old.

She was born June 9, 1918, in Paris, Texas, to Samuel and Vera Sorge.

She was the oldest child of seven and the first in her family to graduate from college. She earned her bachelor’s from the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Ark., and a master’s in English from the University of Oklahoma.

Her mother died when she was in her early 20s, and she raised her two youngest sisters, Vera and Rosalee, who were then 5 and 6 years old.

In 1953, she married William Sorge and together they continued raising Vera and Rosalee, and in 1956 their only daughter, Celia, was born.

Mrs. Sorge was a teacher for the Tulsa Public Schools for 43 years prior to retiring. She was an enthusiastic and energetic teacher, according to her daughter, and was an inspiration to her many students. She was honored in 1978 as Teacher of the Year for Tulsa Public Schools.

After retirement in 1985, the Sorges moved to Vashon to be close to their daughter Celia, their son-in-law Bruce Toomey, and their grandchildren.

She loved Vashon and became involved in the community by volunteering at the Vashon Adult Day Program, the Vashon Senior Center, and the Vashon Cooperative Preschool program. She was involved in Vashon Island Pet Protectors, and she was an active member of the Grange Auxiliary.

In 1992, Mrs. Sorge was one of 15 honorees to receive the Soroptimist award for Women Making A Difference on Vashon Island.

Her brother Tom Harlan and her sister Margaret Staples died earlier.

Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Dr. William A. Sorge, her daughter Celia Sorge, and her grandchildren Kyle Sorge-Toomey, Kelsey Sorge-Toomey, and Carey Sorge-Toomey, all of Vashon.

Other survivors include three sisters, Katie Dunaway, Vera Willey, and Rosalee Gray, her brother Samuel Harlan, and numerous nieces and nephews, all residing in Oklahoma.

A memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, at Island Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Sadie Sorge to The Advancement Department, University of the Ozarks, 415 N. College Avenue, Clarksville, Ark. 72830.