Sharon was very active in her church and in the high school music department. She had a poodle named Gussie Elaine that was her special pet, and after her death, Gussie lived many years with my grandparents.
Sharon played piano and organ and sang in the high school choir.
My only memory of her is from the perspective of a 2.5 year old child...from her waist down, once, when she was sitting at the piano. My brother and I were fighting because we wanted to sit beside her on the right side of the bench. Sharon placed each of us on the piano bench beside her, with her in the middle...and I remember thinking how smart she was...it sounds so silly now, but that's my memory of her.
Sharon was very ill but insisted on participating in the 1962 high school music Christmas program. She died 10 days before her 16th birthday. Her best friend, Pauline, stayed in touch with my grandparents throughout the years and shared with me the honor of giving the eulogy at my grandpa's funeral. Pauline still talks about the fun they had and how she misses Sharon.
Sharon died at home, in the evening, surrounded by her family after a long battle with leukemia.
She is buried next to her mother, Gladys Louise Yarnell Ritz.
After Sharon died, as the only granddaughter, I helped fill the gap for my grandparents. Of course, I didn't know it because I was so young. I just knew that Grandma always called me Gayla Doll and that she gave me unconditional love and support.
My Grandma and I had an extremely close relationship throughout my life. She was my best friend and I loved her more than life itself. When other kids my age in high school were out running around, dragging main and getting into mischief, my favorite place was her house. We'd laugh and gossip. She taught me to decorate cakes, as she did professionally, how to cook, crochet, care for animals, and so many other things.
I've always said, anything good that I am is because of my Grandma.
As much as I miss my Grandma and Grandpa, I'm so glad that they are now with their beloved Sharon Kay. I never see a Rose of Sharon shrub without thinking of her. Bleeding hearts remind me of my grandma, and I appreciate the knowledge my Grandpa shared with me about trees, plants and shrubs.
When Grandma and Grandpa built their house a few years after Sharon died, they had a bedroom that was always called Sharon's room. It held many wonderful treasures and I loved going in there just to "feel" Sharon's essence. They had her perfume bottles and figurines that held endless fascination for me.
Sharon, I could write pages about your legacy and my appreciation to you for loving me and sharing your life with our family. I wish I could have seen your reunion with Grandma and Grandpa. By the way, tell Grandma and Grandpa that I've kept the Christmas cactus going that was in your room. It is another treasure that I cherish from all those years ago.
Love you always and forever, Gayla Doll
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lori Nash-Kanitz has graciously sponsored this memorial for Sharon. Thank you, Lori, for being so kind and generous. Love to you and Becky.
Sharon played piano and organ and sang in the high school choir.
My only memory of her is from the perspective of a 2.5 year old child...from her waist down, once, when she was sitting at the piano. My brother and I were fighting because we wanted to sit beside her on the right side of the bench. Sharon placed each of us on the piano bench beside her, with her in the middle...and I remember thinking how smart she was...it sounds so silly now, but that's my memory of her.
Sharon was very ill but insisted on participating in the 1962 high school music Christmas program. She died 10 days before her 16th birthday. Her best friend, Pauline, stayed in touch with my grandparents throughout the years and shared with me the honor of giving the eulogy at my grandpa's funeral. Pauline still talks about the fun they had and how she misses Sharon.
Sharon died at home, in the evening, surrounded by her family after a long battle with leukemia.
She is buried next to her mother, Gladys Louise Yarnell Ritz.
After Sharon died, as the only granddaughter, I helped fill the gap for my grandparents. Of course, I didn't know it because I was so young. I just knew that Grandma always called me Gayla Doll and that she gave me unconditional love and support.
My Grandma and I had an extremely close relationship throughout my life. She was my best friend and I loved her more than life itself. When other kids my age in high school were out running around, dragging main and getting into mischief, my favorite place was her house. We'd laugh and gossip. She taught me to decorate cakes, as she did professionally, how to cook, crochet, care for animals, and so many other things.
I've always said, anything good that I am is because of my Grandma.
As much as I miss my Grandma and Grandpa, I'm so glad that they are now with their beloved Sharon Kay. I never see a Rose of Sharon shrub without thinking of her. Bleeding hearts remind me of my grandma, and I appreciate the knowledge my Grandpa shared with me about trees, plants and shrubs.
When Grandma and Grandpa built their house a few years after Sharon died, they had a bedroom that was always called Sharon's room. It held many wonderful treasures and I loved going in there just to "feel" Sharon's essence. They had her perfume bottles and figurines that held endless fascination for me.
Sharon, I could write pages about your legacy and my appreciation to you for loving me and sharing your life with our family. I wish I could have seen your reunion with Grandma and Grandpa. By the way, tell Grandma and Grandpa that I've kept the Christmas cactus going that was in your room. It is another treasure that I cherish from all those years ago.
Love you always and forever, Gayla Doll
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lori Nash-Kanitz has graciously sponsored this memorial for Sharon. Thank you, Lori, for being so kind and generous. Love to you and Becky.
Sharon was very active in her church and in the high school music department. She had a poodle named Gussie Elaine that was her special pet, and after her death, Gussie lived many years with my grandparents.
Sharon played piano and organ and sang in the high school choir.
My only memory of her is from the perspective of a 2.5 year old child...from her waist down, once, when she was sitting at the piano. My brother and I were fighting because we wanted to sit beside her on the right side of the bench. Sharon placed each of us on the piano bench beside her, with her in the middle...and I remember thinking how smart she was...it sounds so silly now, but that's my memory of her.
Sharon was very ill but insisted on participating in the 1962 high school music Christmas program. She died 10 days before her 16th birthday. Her best friend, Pauline, stayed in touch with my grandparents throughout the years and shared with me the honor of giving the eulogy at my grandpa's funeral. Pauline still talks about the fun they had and how she misses Sharon.
Sharon died at home, in the evening, surrounded by her family after a long battle with leukemia.
She is buried next to her mother, Gladys Louise Yarnell Ritz.
After Sharon died, as the only granddaughter, I helped fill the gap for my grandparents. Of course, I didn't know it because I was so young. I just knew that Grandma always called me Gayla Doll and that she gave me unconditional love and support.
My Grandma and I had an extremely close relationship throughout my life. She was my best friend and I loved her more than life itself. When other kids my age in high school were out running around, dragging main and getting into mischief, my favorite place was her house. We'd laugh and gossip. She taught me to decorate cakes, as she did professionally, how to cook, crochet, care for animals, and so many other things.
I've always said, anything good that I am is because of my Grandma.
As much as I miss my Grandma and Grandpa, I'm so glad that they are now with their beloved Sharon Kay. I never see a Rose of Sharon shrub without thinking of her. Bleeding hearts remind me of my grandma, and I appreciate the knowledge my Grandpa shared with me about trees, plants and shrubs.
When Grandma and Grandpa built their house a few years after Sharon died, they had a bedroom that was always called Sharon's room. It held many wonderful treasures and I loved going in there just to "feel" Sharon's essence. They had her perfume bottles and figurines that held endless fascination for me.
Sharon, I could write pages about your legacy and my appreciation to you for loving me and sharing your life with our family. I wish I could have seen your reunion with Grandma and Grandpa. By the way, tell Grandma and Grandpa that I've kept the Christmas cactus going that was in your room. It is another treasure that I cherish from all those years ago.
Love you always and forever, Gayla Doll
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lori Nash-Kanitz has graciously sponsored this memorial for Sharon. Thank you, Lori, for being so kind and generous. Love to you and Becky.
Sharon played piano and organ and sang in the high school choir.
My only memory of her is from the perspective of a 2.5 year old child...from her waist down, once, when she was sitting at the piano. My brother and I were fighting because we wanted to sit beside her on the right side of the bench. Sharon placed each of us on the piano bench beside her, with her in the middle...and I remember thinking how smart she was...it sounds so silly now, but that's my memory of her.
Sharon was very ill but insisted on participating in the 1962 high school music Christmas program. She died 10 days before her 16th birthday. Her best friend, Pauline, stayed in touch with my grandparents throughout the years and shared with me the honor of giving the eulogy at my grandpa's funeral. Pauline still talks about the fun they had and how she misses Sharon.
Sharon died at home, in the evening, surrounded by her family after a long battle with leukemia.
She is buried next to her mother, Gladys Louise Yarnell Ritz.
After Sharon died, as the only granddaughter, I helped fill the gap for my grandparents. Of course, I didn't know it because I was so young. I just knew that Grandma always called me Gayla Doll and that she gave me unconditional love and support.
My Grandma and I had an extremely close relationship throughout my life. She was my best friend and I loved her more than life itself. When other kids my age in high school were out running around, dragging main and getting into mischief, my favorite place was her house. We'd laugh and gossip. She taught me to decorate cakes, as she did professionally, how to cook, crochet, care for animals, and so many other things.
I've always said, anything good that I am is because of my Grandma.
As much as I miss my Grandma and Grandpa, I'm so glad that they are now with their beloved Sharon Kay. I never see a Rose of Sharon shrub without thinking of her. Bleeding hearts remind me of my grandma, and I appreciate the knowledge my Grandpa shared with me about trees, plants and shrubs.
When Grandma and Grandpa built their house a few years after Sharon died, they had a bedroom that was always called Sharon's room. It held many wonderful treasures and I loved going in there just to "feel" Sharon's essence. They had her perfume bottles and figurines that held endless fascination for me.
Sharon, I could write pages about your legacy and my appreciation to you for loving me and sharing your life with our family. I wish I could have seen your reunion with Grandma and Grandpa. By the way, tell Grandma and Grandpa that I've kept the Christmas cactus going that was in your room. It is another treasure that I cherish from all those years ago.
Love you always and forever, Gayla Doll
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lori Nash-Kanitz has graciously sponsored this memorial for Sharon. Thank you, Lori, for being so kind and generous. Love to you and Becky.
