Yvette Sharp

Clickable link to the live memorial service broadcast:

https://youtube.com/live/LDjB2aW_wao

To know Yvette was to love Yvette…plain and simple. She was a very special person with a very special talent for loving everyone. Immediately upon interacting with a stranger, whether it be someone assisting her in the hospital or in another aspect of life, she would ask their name. Then by the time they left the room she knew all about them and their families. She always reached out to people, even when she herself was struggling with pain. Even though she was an identical twin, Yvette was truly one of a kind!

Gay Yvette Sharp, 78, Highlands, Texas, graduated early into eternal life to be with her Heavenly Father on July 15, 2024. Yvette was born to Brookshire (Brooks) Dean Baker and Eunice Jewell Swain, September 1, 1945, in Goose Creek, Texas. Interestingly, Yvette's identical twin sister, Annette, was actually born 15 minutes earlier in the previous month on August 31. Sadly, their mother passed when they were only 10 months old leaving the twins and their older brother Dean to be partially cared for by Mom and Pop Baker (Brooks’ parents) in Center, Texas. When they were 4 years old Brooks remarried to Virginia (Ginger) Kirchener. She immediately became their mother and she and Brooks lovingly raised the twins and Dean; and then along came Bonnie, their younger sister.

Yvette and Mike have known each other since Yvette’s family moved to Deer Park when she was in the 7th grade. They were high school sweethearts her last 2 years of school. Yvette graduated from Deer Park High School in 1963. She was an honor roll student and because she was a people person, received numerous awards of recognition. She played basketball until injuring her ankle but instead of quitting became one of the team trainers. She also excelled at tennis where she and Annette were quite the dynamic duo on the tennis team. They also comprised one third of the cheerleading squad for all 3 years. Additionally, Yvette was inducted into the National Honor Society, was a DAR Citizen and was in the Shorthand Club. She was Homecoming Queen in 1962, was a Most Beautiful runner-up and was chosen Miss Deer Park. Interestingly, she and Annette dressed identically throughout their school years even including the night of their graduation. The twins went different directions after that night.

Annette went to Sam Houston State and Yvette went to Stephen F. Austin then San Jacinto College. On April 15, 1965, she married Mike. She sacrificed her college degree so she could go to work and help Mike finish his degree at the University of Houston. She always lamented that she never went back to get her teaching degree.

Mike and Yvette lived in Deer Park a short time before moving to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where they lived for 3 years and where their 1st son Kyler Brooks Sharp was born. After moving back to Deer Park, 2nd son, Farrel Michael Sharp entered the world. They lived in Pasadena and Clear Lake City where Yvette worked for NASA in the Apollo Program for 8 years. Again, she made a sacrifice for the family by leaving her job so they could move to Groves, for Mike’s new job. Yvette was able to parlay her federal employment into a job with the USPS where she worked over 25 years, mostly as the Secretary and Personnel Assistant to the Postmaster at the Port Arthur Post Office. She also excelled in public speaking, rising to the level of Distinguished Toastmaster in the Port Arthur Toastmasters Club. Since they had no daughters, Yvette decided she would obtain some. She started the Miss Port Arthur Scholarship Pageant and, presto-chango, she had lots of daughters! She and Mike ran the pageant for 5 years. One of their contestants finished 3rd Runner-up in the Miss Texas Pageant in Fort Worth! That facet of their life abruptly was squelched by Hurricane Rita in 2005 which severely damaged the house they had built in 1980. Exit Groves, enter Highlands, where they have lived ever since.

Yvette loved to cook and bake. And since by birthright she was born a baker, she baked..all..the..time. She loved to bake cookies and of course, had to give them away..all..the..time. She baked for all occasions: church functions, Mike’s office staff luncheons, for her two grandsons, Tristan in the Navy and Aidan in college, adopted church son’s Lazaro Villafranca in the Army, John Kennedy in college, and anyone else that she thought needed her cookies made with her love (she knew her husband did not need them)!

A little over 3 years ago Yvette was vacuuming and fell, hitting her head on the floor which caused a very serious brain bleed, similar to a stroke and almost died. Her left side, particularly her arm and leg were affected, and the nerve damage caused her excruciating pain most of the time. Several falls after that did more bodily damage. Enter Covid. Although Mike and Yvette avoided Covid during the pandemic, they came down with it on Thanksgiving 2023. It hit Yvette severely and she had been fighting against the long-term effects and her previous injuries ever since. But, fight, she did....all the way! Now she is at rest in Jesus where there is no more pain. She, like the apostle Paul, fought the good fight, and finished the course; she kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for her a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give her at that day; and not her only, but to all of them also who love his appearing.

Yvette is survived by her husband, Mike. She also leaves her 2 sons: Kyler and Farrel, Kyler’s wife, Charlotte and 2 grandsons: Tristan and Aidan. Also, one sister, Bonnie Foxworth; cousins, Elizabeth Bowen, Margaret Bond, Kathy Meyer, John and Betty Baker, Howard Baker, Linda Baker, Mary Emmette, Nancy Baker, Garland Baker; nephew John T.; nieces, Rachel Goff, Rebecca McGivney, and Susie Mencie.

She was preceded in death by Eunice Baker (Mother), Brooks Baker (Father), Virginia Baker (Mother), Dean Baker (Brother), Annette Rushing (Sister) and Buddy Rushing (Brother-in-law).

Yvette was actively involved in the local congregations of the churches of Christ where she lived, including the Deer Park church of Christ, the Limestone church of Christ in Bartlesville, OK., the Groves church of Christ in Groves, TX., the Highlands church of Christ, and currently, the Lake Houston church of Christ. Yvette is responsible for bringing her husband to Christ 63 years ago.

A celebration of Yvette's life is scheduled for Saturday August 3, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the Lake Houston church of Christ. Kevin Hahn will officiate. A lunch will follow in the church fellowship hall. All are invited.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Yvette’s name to the Impact Houston church of Christ which provides assistance to the needy in downtown Houston.

https://impacthoustonchurch.org/donate/

And finally, the family thanks Sabrina Guerrero for her loving care and devotion to Yvette for these last 6 months. They loved each other very much.