Sharon Ann Pope

Under the most beautiful bright light of a ‘super’ full moon with unseasonably warm breezes, Sharon Ann Grant Pope began her next journey to a “peace that transcends all understanding “ (Philippians 4:7 NIV). Born into a family of seven older siblings - and three more yet to come - Sharon held her place in this large brood performing many helpful and necessary tasks around the family home. In addition, she assisted her older brothers willingly with paper routes, shoveling sidewalks, mowing yards, and became an excellent ‘detailer’ of both bicycles and cars alike. In school she excelled in music and math and was fluent in German.

Her professional life began immediately after high school holding various Accounting positions with Indiana Bell telephone company. This employment would prove to be a generation of recognized service leading to her first ‘retirement’ at the young age of 50. Not content with idle pastimes, and always an advocate of life-long learning, her next career opportunity was in real estate as she earned her certification as a licensed real estate agent. Sharon didn’t stop here. She went on to obtain three degrees in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University – her associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree.

Although the majority of her years were spent in the Hoosier state, she did enjoy a decade of life in Arizona where her desire to escape the Indiana cold winters were warmly welcomed by the dry heat, endless blue skies, and lifelong friendships. She returned “…back home again in Indiana” to embrace her extended family with a renewed desire for sharing the everyday events, both big and small, that are often taken for granted.

Sharon thoroughly enjoyed a ‘game of chance’. Her outings to casinos were always met with enthusiasm and joy regardless of the winnings or lack thereof... In her younger years, she had an impressive serve of the tennis racket, and bowled in various leagues with telephone company colleagues. More recently, she also took up hiking and biking to enjoy the great outdoors. For the last five years, she organized a bi-monthly game night with her two sisters and brother-in-law, ALWAYS bringing her competitive nature.

In most attempts to surmise a loved ones’ life, what must never be discounted as routine or customary are the truly unique and personal qualities that define who we are. For Sharon Ann, that would include: situational perseverance, courage to risk, unquestionable honesty, a comforting faith, unconditional love, self-imposed discipline, innocent trust, loyalty unmatched, a fierce independence, a woman of her word...and without question, a generosity of spirit for all that she had and could give. And it must not be left unsaid, that her love for her furry relatives brought her great joy and countless hours of entertainment.

Sharon is survived by her son, Wes Alan Pope (Jamie); daughter, Lori Ann Pope (Rick Cantabery); grandson, Logan Pope; granddaughter, Regan Pope; brothers, Michael Grant, Charles Grant (Lilah); sisters, Sandy Cradic, Maryjane Pesek, Robin Neibler (Mike); many nieces and nephews; and her furry family of Mindy, Alde, Oreo, Murray, Luna, Cosmo and Spunky Too. She was pre-deceased by her maternal and paternal grandparents, parents, and brothers: Paul David Grant, Ronald Grant, Jerry Joe Grant, and James Grant.

To continue Sharon’s legacy of generosity, memorial contributions can be made to the Susan G. Komen organization http://www.info-komen.org/goto/sharonanngrantpope , the ASPCA Memorial Gifts | ASPCA, or other charity of your choosing.