Gaye Marie Bittner Sharpe

Gaye Marie Bittner Sharpe, 67, of North Port, FL, formerly of Harrisburg, PA, passed away on Friday, October 10th. She was the daughter of the late Arthur Emlin Bittner, Sr., and Edna Caroline Tiedgen Bittner, and was also predeceased by her brother, Arthur Emlin Bittner, Jr. Gaye was preceded in death by her husband, William Sharpe, who passed away in 2023 after 37 years of marriage.
Prior to moving to Englewood, Florida, in 1989, Gaye lived in the Harrisburg area, where she worked as an aide for special needs children in the Harrisburg School System. After relocating to Florida, she continued her work as a teacher's aide for special needs students in the Sarasota School System while pursuing a degree in special education. She retired in 2023 after 20 years of dedicated service. Following her husband's passing, Gaye moved to North Port, FL, to be near her daughters and grandchildren.
Before moving to North Port, Gaye was an active member of Englewood Methodist Church, where she served faithfully as a Sunday school teacher for many years and volunteered in numerous capacities.
She is survived by her loving daughters, Lyndsey Pagan and Casey Testa (husband Ronald) of Florida; her stepdaughters, Melanie Sharpe Myers (husband Jeff) and Heather Sharpe; and her cherished grandchildren, Myah and Trinity Pagan, Christian, Michael, Bentley, Brilynn, and Coleson Testa, and Reagan and Carter Headley, all of whom brought great joy to her life.
She is also survived by her sisters, Cheryl Bittner of Wayne, PA, Robin Agerton and husband Bud of Lancaster, PA; her brother, Martin Bittner and wife Anda of Camp Hill, PA, four nephews, one niece, two great-nephews, and two great nieces.
A memorial service to celebrate Gaye's life will be held on October 26th at 2pm at Gaye's home (6363 Kilepa Ct, North Port, FL 34287).
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made by contacting your local school district to pay toward a child's lunch account in arrears. Gaye was deeply troubled by the thought of any child being denied a meal during the school day.
Gaye will be remembered for her deep faith, her kindness, and her unwavering devotion to her family and the children whose lives she touched. She leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion, and service that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

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