Sharon Lea Thompson, 82, a longtime resident of Hoquiam, Washington, passed away in the early morning on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Sharon was the eldest sister of 10 children born to Agnes Nelson. In August of this year, she celebrated her 64th wedding anniversary with her loving husband Glen, her four children Julie, Bruce, Jeff and Danette and her five grandchildren, Sarah, Steven, Spencer, Bailee and Lily.
Sharon was a devoted wife and mother. She had so much love to give that she invited foster children into her home for many years. Sharon may be most well-known in Grays Harbor as the counseling secretary at Hoquiam High School, where she enjoyed working with high school students for 20 years. Sharon became a member of PEO and enjoyed the sisterhood and friendship that developed over the years. She was also an active member of the Saron Lutheran Church and enjoyed working on many community projects with her friends in the congregation.
Sharon was an avid writer of letters and cards and was always sending handwritten notes of support and love to family and friends. She also had four special pen pals that she cultivated by placing an ad in the British Victoria magazine and she corresponded with them for over 20 years.
Sharon knew about the secret to happiness from an early age. It did not come from objects or money. Happiness came from the simple things. One of her favorite quotes: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home and a stranger into a friend.” Some of the simple things she enjoyed was seeing the swallows return each spring to nest, to frolic and dive, and to raise babies so full of joy. She enjoyed “Sunset Sundaes” at the beach where she and her husband watched the sun set over the ocean. She enjoyed her garden house, “The Swallows Nest,” where she would relax, drink tea and enjoy her flowers after a session of weeding. She enjoyed cranberry harvest with the chill in the air and the smell of cranberries, freshly cut vines and burlap. Sharon also enjoyed sailing in the San Juan Islands and get-aways with her husband to Cannon Beach where she enjoyed window shopping and going to her favorite fish and chip shop and bookstore. Sharon once noted, “I can’t imagine living anywhere else — except on an island. The fresh clean air, the sound of the ocean before a winter storm, rainy days to savor a good book – sunny days to garden with swallows darting overhead, migrating geese, eagles, humming birds, cranberry harvest — special friends.”
Besides her husband, children, grandchildren and friends, her greatest happiness came from being on the cranberry farm that she shared with her husband for 55 years. She passed away as she wished, on her cranberry farm with her devoted husband Glen and son Jeff by her side.
Sharon lived her life with love, grace and gratitude. We are grateful for our time with her and for the love and kindness she gave us. It is amazing that a person of such small stature could have such an enormous impact on the lives of those she met. She will be missed beyond words.
A memorial service for Sharon will take place at the Saron Lutheran/First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 1 p.m. Sharon enjoyed gardening and her favorite color was pink. We ask that those coming to this celebration of life wear color. In lieu of flowers, please bring a lavender plant that could be placed in her garden as a lasting tribute.
