Sharon E. Smith

Sharon Elizabeth Smith, our beloved mother, wife, sister, friend and Grummy, passed away peacefully at home on October 16, 2015 at the age of 68 after a two year courageous battle with brain cancer.

Sharon was born March 27, 1947 in Amarillo, Texas to Tim and Joyce Coleman. Her parents soon moved to Riverton, Wyoming where her father was a homesteader and then worked as a crop duster. There she met her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Robert "Bob" Smith, whom she married one month prior to his deployment to Vietnam. Sharon went to college while Bob was away and she graduated from Colorado College in Greeley, Colorado receiving a degree in business education. Upon his return, Bob and Sharon started work on their soon to be very large family. Sharon and Bob traveled the world together while he was an Ob/Gyn in the U.S. Army. They accumulated many friends, and were blessed with a total of seven children, in the many places they called home: Wyoming, Utah, Hawaii, Germany, Texas, Minnesota, Maine, West Virginia, Illinois and Iowa.

They most recently have resided in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa: a place Sharon quickly grew to love due to its friendly and amazing community. Sharon was involved in St. Alphonsus Catholic Church as the "money lady" and as a Eucharistic Minister. She also volunteered at Henry County Health System and flew around the country being the best Grummy any grandchild could ask for. Sharon often remarked about how grateful she was to live in Mt. Pleasant and how blessed she felt to have developed fast and deep friendships with many in the community. In May of 2013, she was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, underwent three brain surgeries, chemo and radiation. She proved all of her physicians wrong when she far surpassed the twelve month prognosis she was given initially and fought her cancer gracefully and valiantly for 29 months.

Sharon lived a life full of giving and unconditional love. Although she found fulfillment in her work and loved budgeting more than anyone should, her true purpose in life came from being a mother and wife. She loved her family with a depth that is hard to measure and always put her own needs behind those of others. She approached life with a smile and always seemed to see the positive in any situation. The eternal optimist, her favorite phrases were, "awesome", I'm so happy for you" and "I love you." Even after her dismal diagnosis, she rarely went a day without remarking on how blessed she was: blessed to have the people who surrounded and loved her. She was truly a hero and best friend to her husband, kids, and grandkids.

She leaves behind a village of people who will find it difficult to face each day without her: her husband of 47 years, Robert W. Smith; her 7 children, Matthew (Claire), Suzanne (Marco), Quinn (Steffi), Meghan (Faris), Luke (Nicole), Tina (Brandon) and Nelle; her 19 grandchildren: Jaslynn, Julianna, Sharon, Isabelle, Tate, Wyatt, Emma, Maya, Elizabeth, Luke, Lilly, Zoe, Tommy, Laila, Matthew, Sarah, Kalona, Shannon and Quentin; her brother, Tim; her sister, Kathy; her many nieces, nephews and friends.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, Joyce and Tim Coleman.

She will be sorely missed; this world won't be the same without her, but we all take comfort in the fact that she is smiling down on us from her rightful place with God. We'll be on the lookout for rainbows.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant with Father Joseph Phung officiating. Friends may call after 3 p.m. on Monday at the church where the family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. A Rosary Service will be held at 7 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in her memory.

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