Sharon Rae Cleverley

Sharon was born in Lamesa, Texas to Frances Marie Gehrels and Matthew Clark Springer on September 26, 1944, but due to her dad’s untimely death at her very young age, Merlin Felix Gehrels was the dad she remembers and who raised her. She initially married Charles W. Jones in 1959 and had three children together, Kirk Allen, Valerie Lynne, and Dana Lee, then divorced in 1976. Sharon was a stay-at-home mom until she began working for Texas Vocational Rehabilitation Commission. While working full-time and raising a family, she obtained an associate’s degree. She decided to join a singles square dance club in San Antonio where she would meet, and eventually marry, Orville D. Cleverley in 1979. Since then, they enjoyed many years of square dancing, clogging, and country western dancing. They moved to Boise, Idaho in 1981, so Orville could manage his brother, Lynn’s music store, while Sharon began her career in 1982 with Albertson’s, Inc. Orville opened his GEICO insurance agency in Mountain Home, Idaho and eventually moved his practice to Aurora, Colorado, while Sharon transferred to Albertson’s division office in Aurora. They learned of a cute mountain town in Prescott, Arizona and decided to retire there, but retirement was short-lived for both! Orv volunteered at Antelope Hills Golf Course and a local elementary school. He golfed 3 days a week, and Sharon started golfing at the course where she later became their tournament director and merchandiser. Sharon had many friends in the golfing community and met some women who invited her to the Methodist church where she joined their Lydia Circle group. Another move would eventually be on the horizon, bringing them to Marble Falls, Texas where golf was still a huge part of their lives. Later, as health issues began to creep in for both, but more seriously for Orville, they made another move to San Antonio to be closer to family. They bought a home in a retirement community, then eventually sold their house while transitioning to an independent living facility just a few miles down the road. Sharon loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with all her heart and bragged about them constantly! I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how crafty and talented Sharon was. She was an artist, seamstress, loved to crochet and knit before her Rheumatoid Arthritis prevented her from doing so. While both she and Orv still had good health, they traveled to Hawaii, Alaska, as well as various adventures in the United States. It wasn’t too long afterward that Orv began declining from his Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, that Sharon had to make the devastatingly hard decision to put him into a memory care facility where he would pass away in 2021. Life was never the same after she lost the love of her life, as she struggled with her own health issues and grief that gripped her tightly.

Sharon is preceded in death by her spouse, Orville D. Cleverley, son Kirk Allen Jones (Norma ‘Tiger’), grandson Kurt Allen Jones (Samantha), parents Frances Marie Gehrels, Matthew Clark Springer, and Merlin Felix Gehrels, brother Dennis Rex Gehrels (Bonnie), nephew Dennis ‘Bubba’ Gehrels, niece Shay Witten, and extended family to include aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Sharon and Orville owned a miniature poodle named Scamp who passed away many years ago and was their cherished, spoiled fur baby!

Sharon is survived by her children Valerie Burns (Carter Leon), Dana Youmans; step-children Steve Cleverley, Jeff Cleverley (Connie), Nadine Hernandez; siblings Michael Springer (Beverly), Janice Crabb (Danny); Grand-children Katelynne Burns, Brandon Burns (Olivia), Christine Hawkins, Robert ‘Bobby’ Youmans (Amber), Amber Gayle Youmans, Clint Jones (Tanya Kay), Crystal Jones, Keith Smith (Jennifer); and great-grandchildren Heather, Kyler, Hailey, Brentley, Briella, Brayden, Brooklyn, Bryannah, Naomi, Brylee, Layne, Kylee, Kirk, Gracie, Christian, Gage, Madilenn, Julia, and Luke, along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Please accept our sincere apologies if we left anyone off as preceded in death, or a survivor, as we tried to be diligent in making sure everyone was included.

A Memorial Service to honor Sharon will be held at Ft. Sam Houston Cemetery in 2025 to allow our out-of-state families time to plan accordingly.

The family of Sharon wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the medical staff at the Methodist Hospital, Floyd Curl Dr., as well as the staff at Vitas Hospice, Medical Dr. for the compassionate care Sharon and our family received. Your kindness and dedication will forever be held in our hearts.