Sharon Atherton

Atherton, Sharon Kay, 46, of Wichita, KS passed away Thurs. Mar. 19, 2015 in Winston-Salem, NC. Sharon was born on Jan. 23, 1969 in Wichita the daughter of John and Carol Jean Friend. Sharon and Randall Atherton were united in marriage on Dec. 26, 1992 at Central Community Church in Wichita. Together they celebrated 22 years of marriage. Sharon graduated from Canton-Galva High School class of 1987. She attended Barton County Community College and later went to Sterling College in Sterling, KS where she earned her BS in education in 1991. Sharon received her master’s degree and specialist degree from Wichita State University. She started out as a special education teacher then Sharon worked as a school psychologist at Derby Public Schools for many years. In 2014 she moved to North Carolina where she worked for the Winston-Salem School District as a school psychologist. Sharon advocated for children and made sure that their needs were the priority. She enjoyed reading, singing, traveling, especially loved the beach, sewing, scrapbooking, shopping with family, walks with Mollie in the park, “being right”. She had a strong faith in Jesus. She was a loving mother, wife, daughter, sister and great friend to all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her father. Survivors include her loving husband, Randall “Randy” Atherton, daughter, Emilie Augusta Atherton, son, Dawson Alexander Atherton, mother, Carol Jean (E.H.) Friend-Land, siblings, John B. (Sharon Maze-Tinsley) Friend, Mary (David) Steffes, Paul Friend, in-laws, Roger (Sandra) Atherton, Chris (Barb) Atherton, nieces and nephews, Erin (Jonathan) Anderson, Allison (Patrick) Mazzei, James Atherton, and Joshua and Caleb Friend, great nephew, Noah Anderson, great niece, McKenzie Mazzei and canine companion, Mollie.

Visitation will be held on Thursday March 26, 2015 from 6 to 8pm. Funeral services will be held 2pm on Friday March 27, 2015 both at Lakeview Funeral Home, 12100 E. 13th St. N., Wichita. Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery, Wichita. A memorial will be established with the Sharon Atherton Memorial Fund c/o WSU Foundation, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0002 (This money will go towards an exam fee for future school psychologist) or the Sharon Atherton College Memorial Fund c/o Mid American Credit Union, 8404 W. Kellogg Dr., Wichita, KS 67206 (this money will towards Sharon’s children’s college fund). To share memories please visit www.mylakeviewfuneralhome.com.