Sharon Joy Stephenson

Sharon was born on April 21, 1935 in El Paso, Texas. She was the oldest child of Wily Max and Fannie Lucille Thompson. After her graduation from Austin High School in El Paso, Texas, Sharon met her husband, Joseph “Joe” Stephenson. They were married on May 28, 1955 at St Joseph Catholic Church and began their life together in El Paso.

Sharon worked at the Memorial Park Branch of the El Paso Public Library before taking a position in the finance department with Furr's Supermarkets. However, once Sharon and Joe began their family, she found her true calling and left Furr's to devote her time to raising and nurturing her children.

Sharon had a number of interests and hobbies. She was an avid reader and enjoyed writing poetry. She enjoyed dancing. Sharon and Joe traveled across the Southwest to participate in various round-dancing and square-dancing events. She loved to sew, knit and crochet. Sharon knitted decorative and personalized Christmas stockings for each of her children and grandchildren. She also made a number of decorative Christmas shirts and sweaters for her daughters and her daughters-in-law.

Sharon was a devout Catholic and cherished her faith. She regularly attended Mass with her family. Sharon was involved in several bible study groups and was active in both the Legion of Mary and the Secular Franciscan Third Order. She amassed an impressive library of books related to the history and teachings of the Catholic Church and important Church figures.

Sharon had a kind word for everybody. She could find the good in every person or situation. She was always first to lend a helping hand to those in need and did so cheerfully, not for approval or recognition but because it was the right thing to do. Sharon worked hard to instill this belief in her children as well.

Sharon is survived by her daughters Patricia and her husband Paul Tenner, and Catherine Reed, of San Antonio, Texas, Karen and her husband Michael Jones of Driftwood, Texas, and Amy Stephenson of Austin, Texas; sons Tom and his wife Delia of Austin, Texas, and Jerry and his wife Kim of El Paso, Texas; grandchildren Jessica, Jeanette, Ryan, Kirsten, Samantha, Lauren, Nicole, and Elise Stephenson, Kristopher Kassner, Aaron and Kelly Tenner, Mason Jones, and Ian Reed; and great-grandchildren Alyssa and Xavier Hernandez; Britain Kassner and Skylar Swan. Sharon was preceded in death by husband Joseph P. Stephenson, her parents, sister Mary Ann Dow, and son-in-law William Reed.

The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation and gratitude to Javier Alvarado and the staff at Alvarado Foster Homes for providing care, companionship and friendship to Sharon during her final years. They became her second family.

A rosary service will be held at St. Peter Prince of the Apostle Catholic Church on Thursday, January 21 at 11:00 a.m. with the funeral Mass following at 12:00 p.m.

ST. PETER PRINCE OF THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH

111 BARILLA PLACE

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Interment at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery will follow the Mass.

Due to the current Covid situation, the family discourages travel to attend the rosary, funeral and interment. These events will be livestreamed for remote viewing. A celebration of Sharon's life will be held later in the year when it is safer to gather.