Sharon Marie Sheppard

The strength of her story starts when she was born in 1944, while her Dad was fighting in Germany during World War II. She would be 15 months old before she met her Dad. This start of life says much about Sharon’s strong, independent character.

Over time, Sharon was joined with three other siblings, being raised in a small home off Knox court in Denver with two supportive, loving parents. After graduating Lincoln High School, she would attend Colorado State University where during a double date with friends, she would decide she liked the other guy better. In 1968 she married that other guy, Bill Sheppard - a New Jersey boy who also attended the same college in Fort Collins. They too started with small beginnings, living in a home behind her parents where she spent a lot of time with her niece eventually buying a large home, in a beautiful, once rural location in Lakewood in 1969. There she would live for over 50 years in a home that would become her pride and joy, giving birth to and raising two girls successfully. Eventually they too would marry, have children and experience innumerable stabilizing traditions in this home created for her four fantastic grandchildren.

When you think of Sharon, you can’t help but think of her strength. Sharon made the hard choice to divorce in 1982. In those days, divorce was rare and risky for females as women couldn’t even have their own credit card. Even though she knew it wouldn’t be easy, Sharon promised her girls they would not suffer because of her decision to leave her marriage. While raising kids in any generation is expensive, it was even more difficult on one income yet Sharon valued growth, education and extracurricular activities. Both girls remained very active in many things, at the sacrifice of their mother, as her generosity insisted on putting her kids first. Sharon helped support her girl’s college costs, cars, car insurance, weddings, and countless other important (and pricey) milestone gifts. Sharon took great pride in being a single parent and raising two very successful daughters who in turn blessed her with grandchildren.

You would think there would be no more ways to show generosity and support for her kids,and then came the grandkids. She was blessed with four who were born annually, in order. She would support each, attending all the birthdays, school events and then their extracurricular activities ranging from cart racing to band concerts, countless sporting events, ultimate frisbee, soccer, and baseball. Sharon understood her 4 grandkids well and took pride in spoiling them. She bought good bikes for her grandsons in Frederick so they could get around before they had cars. She would help make sure her only granddaughter still had a feminine side with powders, perfumes and dresses that without, she would have otherwise not have been able to experience. She helped start her grandson, Andrew, in go kart racing, which kept him wanting to get up each day and is now something he wants to continue life long. She helped support her grandchildren learn to ski, go to college, and drive around the city. She spoiled her grandchildren with extravagant Christmas and birthday gifts, trips and experiences, all the while wearing threadbare underwear herself.

Sharon was empathetic with her grandkids. She would tell her girls to check her jacket pockets when she passed as she likely had many treasures still in them. Sharon still probably has tootsie roll wrappers in her pockets right now from when her grandkids were young, knowing that they could get restless while waiting to order if the family was going out to eat. She had snacks in the car on her Thursday night pick-up, would keep toys and books in the back for entertaining when fighting rush hour traffic to get grandkids back and forth. She even bought a Wii nintendo play station long before the parents had sanctioned the idea - making sure her hard-working grandkids had plenty of time for playing and dreaming as well.

Sharon was loving. Sharon would remeet the man she would spend most of her life with at a Lincoln High School reunion in 1992. She would enjoy this wonderful relationship with the love of her life, Dennis Shepard, for 30 years. Sharon and Dennis traveled, learned about their ancestry, and loved their grandchildren madly, seen in many ways like making unforgettable scavenger hunts at Christmas time together. The two of them spent their days feeding the ducks living in their backyard, watering the lawn with “ditch water”, and watched old tv shows together with “Gunsmoke” being a favorite. Dennis sponsored an absolutely spectacular unforgettable 60th birthday for Sharon at a lodge in Beaver Creek. Dennis changed Sharon’s life for the better - dramatically. Sharon unconditionally loved Dennis, her girls, and her grandkids. She also loved her amazing friends like Kathy Stroh who taught us all how to juggle one year and how to better deal with conflict - directly or indirectly. She loved her neighbors like Mary Lou and always remembered to get them Christmas presents at the end of the year. She loved her son-in-laws George and Chris, her parents, and of course her family and extended family.

Sharon worked hard and was beloved as a Denver Glass, Cloth World and Adrienne Hines employee and was often the seller-of-the-year once she pivoted to commercial real estate later in life. This was a natural fit since she was strong, empathetic, and loving. She also worked hard to make the world a better place, in particular by chairing a committee that would work on the Hilary Clinton presidential campaign in 2016. Sharon believed very strongly in the importance of women in all aspects of life and was a lifelong supporter of women’s rights.

She was an avid coin collector, alternative medicine and liberal politics junkie, and was someone you could always count on for a truthful opinion and pep talk when you were down. Shandra says, that is probably where I will miss mom the most. Mom would always listen, validate my perspective, and show how the problem was solvable and really not as bad as I had made it out to be. I have heard that talking to your loved one who has passed away, outloud, as if they were still in the room, can help with the lonely empty feeling. I’m sure I’m going to be doing that a lot, because I need those pep talks often. I would not be where I am today without my mom’s selfless generosity and dedication.

Andrew says, “Grandma was always extremely kind to me. She understood me and I understood her. Although I hated to see her suffering, I will really miss our times together talking about coins or what it was like when she grew up.”

Amanda says, “I loved it when grandma would pick me up on Thursday nights after school. It was the night I looked forward to most. I loved how she made me feel special and loved. I loved that she let me relax and have fun. Going to the Nutcracker with her and picking out a nutcracker to bring home was one of my favorite traditions growing up. I know she has kept my favorite Kraft mac and cheese on hand for the last 18 years for me.”

George has always remarked, “How can she find such creative, personal gifts for everyone?” after she bought him some special fire starter and wood.

Shelene reiterates her Mom’s strength as a woman, showing women could do anything they wanted to do. I am grateful to be confident in math, science and have a sincere love for learning. I find myself promoting women’s first, like this year’s first female pro football ref and first black female appointment to the Supreme Court, because of Sharon’s influence. If you knew mom you knew you couldn’t spell truth without Ruth, that’s Ruth Bater Ginsberg, you know. Mom’s memory was amazing, even to the very day of her passing. This gift has been passed to me and my oldest. The gift allowed Mom to tell stories. I loved the early funny ones between my Mom and Dad. She likely didn’t know, but her humor was my favorite, especially because it didn’t come out very often. Finally, mom was pro sexual orientation before we had LGBTQIA. Her support of her gay hairstyler for 30 years made a huge impression on my desire to further understand people different than myself and see them in a very loving, whole person, kind of perspective. I’m grateful she introduced me to that point of view before anyone could have input contrasting perspectives.

Chris remembers Sharon as a strong confident woman who took pride in her ability to live independently and support her family. She was an amazing supporter of women’s rights. She cared for her daughters and loved her grandchildren. Plus anyone who loves Neil Diamond is an amazing person.

Braden recalls Grandma was always a sweet and caring woman. While I thought she went overboard with watering her yard, it made me realize that not only does she care for her yard but she cares for her family too. She would “water us” through praise and gifts and just her loving personality. Grandma’s yard, like her family, will always be beautiful.

Conner shares that Grandma was the person who would talk on the phone and communicate with him often in college which gave him the strength to keep pursuing his goals even if they were tough. He will always remember her perfect cursive when she would write letters and never forget her words of wisdom. As she was a keystone of allowing Conner to believe anything is possible.

Sharon was smart, empathetic and loving, amongst many other things. She was a beloved partner, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, cousin, neighbor, and friend. We will miss her stories, her traditions, and her loving support.

Let’s all now take a moment of silence and picture her kindness, her generosity and her love as we play one of her favorite songs, “Islands in the Stream” that you would catch her humming to, especially when she first started dating Dennis. Indeed aren't we all islands that need to be strong when the stream pushes against us, but islands that are interconnected and work together to soften the force of that stream of life trying to make life hard. You would know the song would be written by another strong woman Sharon admired, Dolly Parton.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhampdenmortuary.com for the Sheppard family.