Sharon June Paul

Sharon June Paul, known to her friends and family as Sherrie, was born in the small town of New Salem, North Dakota on March 2, 1945. Sherrie and her identical twin, Shirley, were the last of seven children born to Emma and Walter Matthiessen. After the deaths of both her father and twin, she moved to Bismarck with her mother and brother Gordon. Shortly thereafter, she met the love of her life, Gary Paul. He was the first to call her Sherrie because, as she liked to tell it, “Sharon was too harsh and Gary said I was such a soft person.” After getting married, she supported Gary through college and medical school, first as a soda fountain girl and then as a graphic artist. Shortly after Gary’s graduation from medical school, she gave birth to their first daughter, Wendy. They then joined the Army and began their 21-year journey through Germany, Maryland, Hawaii, and eventually Colorado Springs. Their second daughter, Vicky, was born during their first tour in West Germany.

Although she stopped working as a graphic artist once the girls were born, Sherrie spent a majority of her time using the talents God gave her to bless and serve others. While Gary was on active duty, Sherrie volunteered in the Red Cross making countless flyers, certificates, and bulletins as well as working in the pharmacy. Once Gary retired and transitioned to being a civilian Army doctor, Sherrie devoted her talents to the church. She was the head counter for many years, made countless banners and bulletin boards, sewed vestments, and crocheted hundreds of pot holders and baptismal blankets. Beyond her work with the Red Cross and her church, Sherrie kept busy doing numerous artistic projects for friends and family. Almost everyone who knew her has something that she made: a crocheted Christmas ornament, a personal baby quilt, a shopping bag or clothing.

The last years of her life were a series of slow goodbyes as she struggled with increasing dementia. In late 2022, she moved up to Arlington, Washington near Wendy and Carson. At first, she resided in an assisted living facility but within two months transitioned into the memory care unit. Although her mind faded with time, she never lost the ability to crochet and was quick to ask anyone if she could make something for them. Every care worker in the facility owns a potholder. Even in the last stages of her dementia, however, her spirit continued to acknowledge Jesus. She began speaking of heaven and responded to every prayer or hymn we spoke over her. Despite all of the other things she lost, the thing that remained was her desire to bless other people, even in a small way. She would want us to tell you that the reason for her earthly and heavenly hope was because of her trust in her savior, Jesus Christ.

Sherrie was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Meta, Jeanette, Ruthann, and Shirley, and her beloved husband of 39 years, Gary Paul. She is survived by her daughters Wendy and Vicky and their husbands Carson and Mike; grandson Jacob Tavenner and his wife Amy; granddaughters Bethany Tavenner and Caitlin Watt; and siblings Delores Reis and Gordon Matthiesen. And, although she never met him, two months before she passed, Sherrie became the great-grandmother of Ezra, born to Jacob and Amy in March. In fact, her last piece of handiwork was his baby quilt. Like her other work, it will be a cherished heirloom.