Cherry Shaw Sharpe, 76, passed away after a brief illness Saturday, January 9, 2016, at Abilene Regional Hospital. She was born June 14, 1939, in Fort Worth, Texas.
She was the third of four children born to Henry and Claudia Shaw. She graduated from Fort Worth Polytechnic High School and attended Evangel College in Springfield, MO, for 3 years and then returned to Texas Wesleyan College to complete her teaching degree. While she was at Evangel College, she was elected as homecoming queen. She married Richard Sharpe on August 2, 1963. She began her teaching career in Weatherford and concluded her 30 years teaching span at Woodland Heights, where she touched the lives of hundreds of children. Cherry retired from teaching after 25 years at Woodland Heights Elementary in 1995. Her hope was to educate elementary children, to make the world a little better by making the difference in the life of a child.
Cherry deeply desired to honor God with her life. Each night she looked over the day and asked herself if the world was better because she lived today. If it was, she was content. If it wasn’t, she knew what she had to do tomorrow. This was her life’s mission statement, which she lived by daily. She lived to serve others. She taught Sunday school at First Baptist Church for many years, she volunteered at The Good Samaritan as well as Meals on Wheels.
Cherry had many passions, such as being an avid needle pointer and quilter. She took pleasure in her sewing for her family and friends even to the end of her life. She enjoyed her time in the kitchen, cooking and baking often sharing her meals and treats with others in need. She was a faithful fan of the Brownwood Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. She was a loving homemaker who had a strong faith in Jesus as her Savior and lived her life accordingly. She was a servant to her God, her family, and her church. She was always ready to help wherever it was needed. One of her greatest joys was having all of her family together. She left a legacy of loving and caring for all who knew her.
Cherry is survived by her husband of 52 years, Richard Sharpe; son and family, Carter, Kristi, Mabrey, Emma, and Graham; son and family, Brad, Christen, Ellis, and William; sister, Joyce Givens; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers, Burrell Morris Shaw and Henry Harris Shaw, Jr.
Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at Heartland Funeral Home. Services will be Wednesday, January 13, 2016, at 2:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church in Brownwood with a celebration reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The Carter Sharpe Scholarship Fund at Howard Payne University or to Evangel University care of financial aid designated for The Cherry Sharpe Education Scholarship: 1111 N Glenstone Ave., Springfield, MO 65802.
Condolences can be offered to the family online at heartlandfuneralhome.net.