Sharon Kay Gardner Howes

Sharon Gardner Howes passed away peacefully on January 2, 2025, at the age of 84. As she slipped from her mortal life, she was surrounded by more than 30 members of her family who all love and respect her as their matriarch. She had suffered a fall a few days earlier. But on January 2nd her health began to deteriorate rapidly. Within only a few hours these members of her family began arriving to be with her. It was an expression of love and respect for a woman so deserving of this devotion.

Sharon was born on June 4, 1940, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Ralph J. Gardner and Elaine Ward Gardner. She was the oldest of 3 children. She and her two siblings, Marty and Janice, enjoyed their life growing up in the “avenues” and later the Glendale area of Salt Lake City. The family were active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with both sides of the family having strong pioneer and missionary heritage.

From an early age it became apparent that Sharon had a gift for music. As a toddler she displayed perfect pitch. This fact is verified in recordings made in 1942 of two-year old Sharon singing the war-time song “Over There.” As much as she loved and excelled in singing, it was piano that became her passion. Hearing her mother play piano and organ prompted Sharon to want to learn to play, herself. The family soon realized that Sharon was a prodigy on the piano. She won her first piano contest at age 5. By the time she was a young teenager she could play anything. Her talent was expressed perfectly by playing any music “by ear.” She could hear a piece of music one time and play it with no sheet music. Her daughter-in-law, Wende Howes, recently recalled that she once went to a movie with her. When they returned home Sharon sat at the piano and perfectly played the theme to the score of the movie that she had seen for the first time two hours earlier. Sharon loved all genres of music from Bach and Beethoven to Elvis and Elton. Her love and talent for music added depth and beauty to her life.

Sharon was a graduate of West High School in Salt Lake City. She served in student council and was heavily involved in many clubs, as well as music and theater productions.

On June 19, 1959, she married Kenneth Ross Howes in the Salt Lake Temple. They had 5 children: Kimberly, Kristine, Kelli, Daniel, and Michelle. Sharon’s love of music would be passed on to her children. For example, with the birth of her 3rd daughter, Sharon had created a musical trio. By the time Kelli was old enough, the 3 Howes girls were singing in church and community functions all over. The 3-part harmony pieces they sang were arranged and accompanied by their mother. Music in one form or another filled the Howes home from morning to night. There may even have been a time or two that Sharon’s own children had to ask her to turn the volume down to the music she was listening to on the “stereo.”

At the time of her death, Sharon had been a widow for 35 years. Her beloved husband, Ross, died in a work-related auto accident in January of 1990. This was a life-changing event that she faced with faith and dignity. She has spent the rest of her life watching her children grow their own families. This growth has led Ross and Sharon Howes to have 28 grandchildren and 37 great grandchildren.

Sharon’s great trial in life has been poor health. For many years she has suffered from effects of diabetes, chronic pain, and heart disease. She suffered a heart attack in 1998 and underwent life-saving quadruple cardiac bypass surgery. Several strokes, falls, and illnesses have followed over the years. But through it all she exemplified the lesson she had always taught her family to “find the blessing.” Even amidst the trials of life, there are lessons to be learned and blessings to be realized. This positive outlook stemmed from her unwavering faith in and love of The Savior, Jesus Christ. She took every opportunity to bear witness of her faith and to declare her personal relationship with Jesus. That faith, along with her knowledge of God’s eternal plan, allowed her to face her trials in life. And it was that eternal perspective with which she anticipated the glorious reunion that occurred last Thursday with her husband and many other family members.

Sharon was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Ross Howes; Her parents Ralph and Elaine Gardner; Her brother Martin R. Gardner, and recently her grandson, Thomas Ross Galloway.

She is survived by her 5 children: Kimberly Howes Reimann (Jon) of West Valley City, Utah; Kristine Howes Larabee (Bryce) of Magna, Utah; Kelli Howes Lee (Randy) of Salt Lake City, Utah; Daniel Ross Howes (Wende) of Saint Cloud, Florida, and Michelle Howes Galloway (Dave) of Saratoga Springs, Utah – and her sister, Janice Gardner Tabish of West Jordan, Utah.

A celebration of Sharon’s life will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 1:30 pm. It will be at Valley View Funeral Home 4335 W. 4100 S. West Valley City, Utah. There will be a viewing prior to the service from 12:15 to 1:15 pm. Interment to follow the service at the adjacent Valley View Memorial Park where she will be laid to rest next to her husband.