She was born at home on July 23, 1941, the second of four children, in Quenemo, Kansas, the daughter of Eugene H and Lala Faye (Fanning) Wards. Sharon graduated from Bucyrus High School in 1959.
She grew up on a farm and had a love for animals, which led to her working at a veterinarian hospital in the late 1960s/early 1970s.
Sharon spent the rest of her working life employed by King Radio, an aviation/avionics company. The company was sold several times over the years, when she retired in 2006, it was known as Honeywell.
Sharon had 3 children from her first marriage; John, Bill, and Susie. Later, she met Hugh Nelson and they fell in love and were united in marriage on April 14, 1975. They were married for 33 years until Hugh’s passing in 2008.
Sharon also enjoyed being creative in many different crafts, such as ceramics, took an oil painting class, cross-stitch, stamping, and sewing clothes, including a wedding dress, and then quilting. She gave the majority of her quilts to friends, and family. She also made lap quilts for a local hospice house, and a cancer center in Reno, NV.
Sharon loved her family and enjoyed spending as much time as she could with them. She was an excellent cook, who loved hosting family dinners. She was a hard worker, sometimes working two jobs in order to help make ends meet. She loved talking and telling stories, she never met a stranger. Sharon was loved and will be missed by many.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene H and Lala Faye (Fanning) Wards, her husband, Hugh Nelson, two brothers Bill Wards Sr., Rex Wards, and one sister Judy Jo Wards.
Sharon is survived by her three children, John Nelson and wife Lois (currently) of Paola, Ks, Bill Nelson and wife Debbie of Kincaid, KS, Sue McRae and husband Roy of Paola, KS, 3 Grandchildren, 4 Great Grandchildren & many extended family members.
A visitation for Sharon will be held Monday, March 21, 2022 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at McGilley & Frye Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 105 E. Loula Street, Olathe, KS 66061. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, March 22, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Faith Baptist Church, 15285 US-169, Olathe, KS 66062. An interment will occur Tuesday, March 22, 2022 from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Woodlawn Cemetery, 551 K-68 Hwy, Pomona, KS 66076.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McGilley-Frye.com for the Nelson family.
