Sharon Kelly McAfee

Sharon Kelly McAfee, a vibrant and fun-loving spirit, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on October 12, 1948 in Waco, TX and graduated from Richfield High School in 1967. Sharon dedicated over 57 wonderful years of her life to her beloved husband, Archie E. McAfee. Together, they built a beautiful life filled with love, laughter, and adventure.

Sharon and Archie were college sweethearts having met in English class at North Texas State University [now the University of North Texas] in Denton, Texas. After graduation from NTSU, Sharon and Archie moved to Plano where they both worked for 29 years for the Plano Independent School District. Sharon became the director of purchasing for Plano ISD and served as the bid administrator for PISD.

Upon retirement from Plano ISD in June of 2000, Sharon and Archie moved to Austin. Sharon went to work for the Texas Association of School Boards as the Director of the “Buy Board” for twenty years before she retired in June 2020. Sharon’s retirement date was during the COVID pandemic, and her staff was not permitted to have an in-person retirement reception for her, so they got creative and held a drive-by parade in the Circle C neighborhood for Sharon. Sharon’s business sense was instrumental in growing the “Buy Board” from a 1 million dollar a month in sales to over 1 billion dollars a year after a brief time.

Sharon was a devoted mother to her two daughters, Kelli Morse and Lindsay Hoelscher, who carry on her legacy of joy and resilience. She was also a proud grandmother to five cherished grandchildren: Carter Morse, Caroline Morse, Leigh Hoelscher, Hal Hoelscher, and Ford Hoelscher, each of whom brought immense joy to her life.

Known for her zest for life, Sharon was always the life of the party. She found joy in the simplest moments. In her younger days she was an avid water skier and enjoyed showing off her slalom course skills. One of her joys later in life was riding on the back of Archie’s Harley Davidson through the picturesque Texas Hill Country. Sharon loved to play golf, and she and Archie spent weekends playing golf at Westlake Country Club. Her infectious laughter and adventurous spirit touched the lives of everyone around her, creating countless memories that will be treasured forever.

Sharon was a champion planner and planned trips for her and Archie for over 57 years. There were two Alaskan cruises, one cruise to the Caribbean, but the most memorable excursion was a three-week Mediterranean Cruise to celebrate their 50the wedding anniversary in July 2019. Sharon planned this cruise down to the last detail and made only one mistake by double booking a hotel room in Rome. But Sharon’s business sense and her ability to be persuasive helped her convince the hotel manager to refund her money if he rented out the room before 6:00 P.M. that day. The room was booked by 5:30 and Sharon received a refund.

Sharon was a great dancer, having taken dance all through her formative years. She and Archie loved to frequent the Broken Spoke on South Lamar and do the two-step to the sounds of Alvin Crow and others who brought great Country music to life at the “Spoke.”

Every Friday night was date night for Sharon and Archie, and it always included a trip to Matt’s El Rancho for dinner with their favorite waiter Joe Robledo. Without asking, Joe would always bring a “Small Bob” and a basket of chips to start the dinner. The entire staff at Matt’s made Sharon feel special and always gave her priority seating when she arrived.

Sharon will be remembered not only for her love of life but also for her unwavering support and encouragement to her family and friends. She had an incredible ability to make everyone feel special and valued. She served as a Girl Scout Leader when both girls were in elementary school and volunteered to be the treasurer of the Golden Girl Drill Team Booster Club when Kelli was a student at Plano East Senior High School.

Sharon was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2005 and has suffered the limitations that have been placed on her body, mind and spirit. She has not allowed Parkinson’s to rob her of her ability to remain active. Archie has a favorite expression when he describes Sharon and her ability to fight through adversity. He says – “She is tougher than 9 miles of barbed wire!”

Sharon's legacy is one of love, laughter, and adventure. She taught her family the importance of living life to the fullest, embracing every moment with enthusiasm. Her spirit will continue to inspire those who were fortunate enough to know her.

A celebration of Sharon's life will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church on West Slaughter Lane at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, February 28, 2026. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation at https://www.parkinson.org/

The family would like to acknowledge the following doctors, medical staff and others who helped make Sharon’s life more comfortable.

Dr. Richard Tallman, Dr. Elizabeth Peckham, Dr. Anant Patel, and the staff at Aspen Hospice: Julie Rutherfurd, Princess Green, McKenzie McCraw, Maranda Mulroney and Chaplin Joe Arispi.

Sharon’s legacy of love, laughter, and adventure will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.