Sharon "Shari" Arlee Peistrup

Sharon (Shari) Arlee Peistrup, 86, of Montgomery, Alabama passed into the arms of her Heavenly Father on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Shari is survived by her son Greg (Lucy) Peistrup and her daughter Pam (Mark) Hill, five grandchildren and step-grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren and step grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 53 years, Edward, her daughter Cheryl (Mike) Jones, and sisters Beverly (Chuck) Cheek and Nancy (Dean) Bunce.

Shari grew up on an apple orchard in Yakima, Washington with her family and beloved horse, Merrylegs. She loved art and design, earning an art scholarship to Central Washington College and winning the Central Washington Fair Window Display Competition in 1959. She married Ed in 1957 and followed him to Seattle, the Philippines, New Orleans, Charleston South Carolina, and Japan until retiring to their beachside home in Ocean Park, Washington with their beloved beagle, Redleigh. In 2005, they moved to Montgomery to be close to family.

Shari served others and the Lord. In the Philippines, she organized and delivered support to local orphanages. She worked nonstop for three months supervising 300 volunteers supporting the evacuation of refugees from Vietnam, earning a Certificate of Appreciation from the Secretary of Defense. In Charleston, Shari served as a volunteer docent in historic antebellum homes. In Japan, she taught English and mastered the arts of Bonsai (miniature tree cultivation) and Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging). She loved spending time with family and friends and caring for her Shi-Tzu "puppies" Cho Cho and Chu Jo.

Shari's family sends a special thank you to the staff of Capitol Hill Healthcare and Rehab First, who cared for her with such love and kindness.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Frazer Missions ( https://frazer.church/give ), Samaritans Purse ( https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/donate-online/ ), Little Star Chihuahua Rescue ( https://www.chewy.com/g/little-star-chihuahua-rescue_b90176935 ), or the Montgomery Humane Society ( https://www.montgomeryhumane.com/donate/ ).

A Visitation for Shari will be held Thursday, July 17, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Alabama Heritage Funeral Home, 10505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36117, followed by a Memorial Service at 2:00 PM.