of 77.
Sharon was preceded in death by her husband Richard Oren Neal, her sisters Maureen McDowell
and Mary Sullivan, and her brother Michael Habrat. She is survived by her son Patrick Neal of
Pensacola, daughter Meghan Smith (Joshua) of Atlanta, brother Jack Habrat (Mary) of
Birmingham, and nieces Natalie Anderson, Melanie Kohn, Amy Bach, Elizabeth Habrat, and
Jacquelyn “Jackie” Habrat, all of Birmingham.
Sharon was born in Birmingham, Alabama on March 8, 1943 to Thaddeus Habrat and Virginia
Habrat (née Cassidy). She was a graduate of John Carroll high school in Birmingham. She went
on to receive her bachelor’s in education from Mt. Saint Agnes college in Baltimore, Maryland
in 1965. Sharon taught elementary school in Pensacola, Florida, where she met Richard and went
on to marry him in 1968.
Sharon loved art and returned to school to receive her Bachelor of Arts from Auburn University
at Montgomery. In addition to painting, she was an avid reader and a beloved member of her
local book club. She was deeply religious and was a parishioner of the Basilica of St. Michael
the Archangel in Pensacola. Sharon also loved animals and her home was always full of, and
welcome to, animals of all kinds.
A small memorial service will be held 2PM, Friday, July 31, 2020 at Bayview Fischer Pou Memorial Park.
The family would like to express our thanks to the caregivers at Lifecare Center of Pensacola. In
lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the ASPCA.
