Sara Isabelle Swanson Belcher, 88, passed from this life Friday, July 9, 2010, under Big Bend Hospice Care. She was the widow of Finley Eugene Belcher and the sister of Tom Swanson who preceded her in death. Sara grew up in Perry, Florida, the daughter of Thomas Joseph Swanson, Sr. and Isabel Swanson. Graduating early from Perry High School, she then attended Florida State College for Women where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. Sara later earned a Masters Degree in Administration and Supervision from Florida State University. Sara's first year of teaching was in Gainesville, Fl. It was there she met Finley Belcher a soldier during W.W.II. They celebrated their 50th anniversary a few months before he passed. She then taught in Oxford, Mississippi while her husband attended Ole Miss. A fond memory of her teaching there was that she taught William Faulkner's daughter, Jill. The Belchers returned to Tallahassee where Sara worked at Kate Sullivan School, first as a teacher then as the school's first assistant Principal. Her first year there was the year Kate Sullivan opened as a new school. Friends often said, she "opened" Kate Sullivan. Sara had many fond memories of Kate Sullivan students that she taught. She was honored when the school named the media center "The Sara Belcher Media Center". She was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church. In addition she participated in professional organizations including Delta Kappa Gamma, the Southern Association of Colleges and School (SACS). She made many visits to schools around the state for evaluation of programs and self-studies. Some of these after she retired in 1984. As a teacher, she was a member of local and state teacher associations. She was a member of the Leon/Wakulla Retired Educators Association, and the Kate Sullivan Retired Teachers Association. She became a life member of the Florida Retired Educators Association. She enjoyed travel and reading during free time. She took many tours to areas in the U.S. and Canada, as well as several tours to Western Europe. Failing vision in recent years made TV and recorded books a replacement for reading as a daily activity. Sara is survived by son, Richard Finley Belcher and daughter in law Karen Belcher of Tallahassee, daughter, Sara Irene Lynn Brown of Port Ludlow, Washington, and a sister in law Marylee Swanson of Atlanta, Ga. Sara touched the lives of many, her sweet and caring nature made her loved and was well-respected by all who knew her.