Sharon Ann (Howe) (Grimes) Murphy of Castle Rock, Colorado passed away on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Sharon was born August 29, 1945, in Bloomington, Il. to Maurice & Dona Howe. She grew up in Farmer City, Il. surrounded by a large and loving family including four sisters and a brother.
Sharon graduated from Illinois State University in 1966, earning a B.A. and went on to marry her high school sweetheart, Carl Grimes in 1967. Together, they ventured to Alaska as he served in the U.S. Air Force. In 1971, the couple settled in Colorado, where they welcomed their son, Jon.
Sharon graduated with a JD from the University of Denver in March 1977 and was admitted to the Bar in May of the same year. She opened her first law office in November 1977 and continued to practice law until her death.
Later in life, Sharon met her second husband, Terrence (Terry) Murphy. They married in 1990 and spent 38 years together in Castle Rock, Colorado. Sharon also became a loving stepmother to Terry’s three daughters, Zane, Kathy, and Megan. Sharon’s family continued to grow as she became a proud grandmother to Jarred, Hannah, and Mikey. Later, Jon adopted two daughters, Tracy and Amy, and had two sons, Calvin and Cooper. In recent years, Sharon could often be found on the sidelines of Cooper’s football and lacrosse games or rinkside cheering for Calvin’s hockey matches.
Professionally, Sharon was an accomplished lawyer, specializing in family and estate law. She was also a devoted member of Calvary Baptist Church and the Colorado Archaeological Society.
Sharon is preceded in death by her father, J. Maurice Howe; her mother, Dona Howe Amdor; her brother-in-law, Jerry Hoover; and her sister-in-law, Nancy Howe.
Sharon is survived by her children, Erinn (Todd) Murphy of Union Bridge, MD; Kathy (Rick) Kling of Eloy, AZ; Megan (Bud) Sellers of Eloy, AZ; Jon (Thelma) Grimes, Centennial, CO. Her grandchildren, Jarred L. Kling, Brookfield, CO; Hannah (Ian) Sellers Nichols; Michael S. Sellers Jr. (Shelby), Brookfield, CO; Tracy Grimes, Seminole, TX; Amy Grimes, Tillamook, OR; Calvin Grimes, Centennial, CO; and Cooper Grimes, Centennial, CO. Her siblings, Sandra Atkinson of Monticello, IL; Kathy Hoover of New Carlisle, IN; Carole (Randy) Kopp of Farmer City, IL; Janet (Doyle) Otto of Farmer City, IL; Joe Howe of Farmer City, IL.
A memorial service for Sharon will be held Friday, June 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Calvary Baptist Church, 6500 E Girard Ave., Denver, Colorado 80224.
