Her friends, colleagues and family members all agree: Susan Jane Scatterday was a disciplined woman at work, but also one who had a love for life.

Scatterday died at age 92 March 14 at her Bexley residence, after a fight with acute leukemia. She was well-known in the community, especially after her 23-year stint as Bexley Maryland Elementary School’s principal.

Memorial services were held March 24.

Scatterday was a leader who had a passion for children, said Carolyn Bennett, Scatterday's niece. Scatterday became Maryland’s first principal in 1950, a job she held until retirement in 1973.

"She just always had the love of the children. Of course she was never married, but she had a million of children in the (school) system, and they all just loved Sue Scatterday," Bennett said.

“She was recognized for her abilities and her love for children. She was never a harsh disciplinarian, but she knew how to handle the children. She would correct them, but not scold them. She would lovingly show the correction.”

Prior to becoming principal, Scatterday taught at Bexley’s Montrose Elementary School starting in 1940, and worked as a reading supervisor for Bexley elementary students.

Bexley resident Heidi Holstein attended school when Scatterday was principal from 1970-73.

“She was always very feisty and always very firm, but also very loving. You knew that your reprimand was for a good reason, and that it was a good lesson," Holstein said.

“If you were unfortunate to have to visit her (in the office), it was always with good reason and there was always a gentle lesson beyond her admonishments."

But Scatterday had a lifelong impact on Holstein in that she was a female principal at a time when that wasn’t as common.

"As a woman, she showed me that any goals you want to reach, you certainly can.

She was way ahead of her time. It was nice to see a woman as the head of school, and that probably had the greatest impact on me," Holstein said. Scatterday also encouraged her students to improve as individuals, Holstein said.

"She just wanted everyone to be the best they could be, that you could always do better," Holstein said.

Dorothy McCoy, a retired Maryland fourth-grade teacher, remembered the impact Scatterday had on the school’s community.

“She knew every child’s name in the whole school. All the children and parents loved her,” McCoy said.

Scatterday also served on the Bexley Board of Education for eight years.

But Scatterday’s love for children continued outside of the classroom.

"When we would have our family holiday get-togethers, she always had to sit at the kids table. She never got to sit at the adult table because she was a kid at heart. She loved being with the kids," Bennett said.

Raised in Worthington by a single mother, Scatterday had four older siblings, a sister and three brothers.

Although she was the youngest, Scatterday was the leader, a trait that Bennett said she admired.

“She was just the maverick. She led the way,” Bennett said. "She just had that aura about her that she just stood above the crowd and everybody loved her. She just loved people.”

Scatterday received both her bachelors and master’s degrees from Ohio State University.

She was very involved with the Bexley United Methodist Church, and was also part of the Bexley Women’s Club.

For years, Scatterday and her family traveled to Lake Erie. She was an avid swimmer who also loved boating and sailing, Bennett said.

Holstein, who also was Scatterday’s neighbor for l2 years, said she will remember Scatterday’s love of mowing her own lawn on a riding lawn mower.

"You could see her mowing her lawn with such zeal and zest," Holstein said.

Scatterday was full of fun, and made everyone around her laugh constantly, said McCoy, who was Scatterday`s roommate for more than 50 years.

"She was the best. I’ve been truly blessed to be part of her life," McCoy said.

Scatterday is survived by three nieces and a nephew, as well as several grand- and great-grand-nieces and nephews.