Sharon Lynne Kohon

Sharon Lynne Russell was born to Harold Lawrence Russell and Gladys Louise Russell (née Graf) on March 4, 1949 in Ottawa . The Russell family moved to the United States when Lynne was four. They were sponsored by Harold’s sister, Betty, and her husband, Larry, who was working on his PhD at Michigan State University.

Lynne married John Allen Kohon in 1969, and together they had one daughter, Anika Louise Kohon, in 1978. Lynne worked to put John through college and later returned to MSU herself, earning her BA in Elementary Education in 1990. She balanced school assignments with the rigors of motherhood while putting dinner on the table on time and capitulating to the needs of the demanding family Cocker Spaniel, Saylor. Despite her numerous responsibilities, she graduated at the top of her class and carried the flag for the School of Education at her graduation.

Lynne’s indomitable spirit defined her from an early age. The stories of her spunk abound. Always the charismatic hostess, she cultivated a close-knit group of women dubbed “The Movie Group,” who met regularly to discuss films while enjoying fine wine, great food, and even better company. Always loyal and loving, she maintained lifelong friendships from her elementary school friend Jo Etta to her dear friend Marcia, who stood by her side the night Anika was born.

Lynne’s big heart defined her. Lynne would prepare snacks and spend quality time with Anika and her friends. One of Anika’s friends said of Lynne, “There were so few parents that would sit down and talk to their kids’ friends like her.”

Lynne married Dr. David I. Johnson in 1995 . She later married John Kenneth Cooper, Jr., in 2009.

She was preceded in death by her parents , ex-husband John Kohon, nephew Justin Drawbert, and stepson Noah Cooper.

Lynne is survived by Anika, sisters Hedy (Dr. Robert Carpenter) and Myrna (Robert Drawbert), brother Marc Russell, husband John Cooper, stepdaughter Dr. Cheyney Dobson (Dr. Matthew Sullivan), and nieces Madison Russell, Violet Russell, and Shaina Christensen, ex-husband Dr. David Johnson as well as step grandchildren Elijah and Isabelle Sullivan. And not to go unmentioned … her Boxer granddogs George Joseph Kohon and Neville Allen Kohon.

A memorial and celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. June 7 at Gorsline Runciman in East Lansing .

All who knew her are welcome. In keeping with family tradition, spontaneous dancing may occur.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hazel and Karen Kiser Endowment. https://grad.msu.edu/funding/funding-list/kiser-scholarship.