Sharron Lee Lower

Sharron was born on January 16, 1940, in Aurora, IL, and was married to Robert Lower on December 3, 1977, at People’s Church in East Lansing, MI.

Sharron earned her bachelor’s degree in Education with a Minor in Special Education from Illinois State University and obtained her master’s degree from Michigan State University in 1973. Her teaching career began in Aurora, IL before moving to Michigan in 1970 where she taught her beloved students at Otto Junior High and Lansing Eastern High School where she was the Special Education Coordinator. She continued to pursue what she loved most, teaching living skills to young adults at the Beekman Center in Lansing. Her exceptional career in education spanned over 40 years.

Sharron’s love for her students and education cascaded into volunteering for Special Olympics and helping kids whenever she could. Sharron loved boating, her cats, quilting, knitting and was an avid reader and movie buff with an extensive collection of both. Her love and pride for her family and friends were apparent in every conversation she had and she loved to cheer on her kids and grandkids at their numerous sporting events. She was a passionate Michigan State Spartan fan who never missed a basketball game and knew every stat!

Sharron is survived by her beloved husband of 43 years, Robert Lower; devoted daughters Kristin (Bard) and husband Joe Shurmur, Stacey (Bard) Eschberger and partner Chris Turner; cherished grandchildren Kelsey Shurmur, Joey Shurmur, Madison Eschberger, and Mackenzie Eschberger; and sister Karla (Patterson) Cooper. Sharron was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Mildred Patterson, her loving caregivers Virginia Patterson, Hazel and Arthur Smith, and her brother Larry Patterson.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held on Saturday, May 8 from 2pm until 5pm at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Chapel, 1730 E. Grand River Ave in East Lansing. The family welcomes friends and relatives to come share a memory, reminisce through photographs, and remember all the lives Sharron touched throughout her wonderful life.

Memorial tributes are kindly suggested to the Special Olympics Michigan at www. somi.org.