Sharon Anne Burnett

Sharon Burnett passed away Thursday, April 15, 2021 in Oklahoma City after a years-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born Jan. 17, 1943, in Topeka, Kan., to Bob and Virginia Shea, Sharon was big sister to Mike and Keith. While a high school student, Sharon especially enjoyed singing in the chorus. After graduating high school in 1961, she developed her love of English literature while attending universities during the decade.

Sharon married Jim Burnett March 14, 1969, in Wichita at Sharon’s church, and together they raised two children, Alicia and Neil. While raising her young family, Sharon served as the choir director of her church and sang at numerous weddings and funerals. In the 1980s, she began her decades-long career as a teacher for Head Start in Oklahoma.

Sharon enjoyed traveling, and discussing current events, politics, literature and a slew of other topics, but her greatest love was for her grandchildren: Kellie, Preston, Violet and Alexandra. Sharon was always sensitive to the needs of her grandkids, loving them with all her heart and soul. Stays at Sharon’s house, whether for an afternoon, night, or a few days, were always a highlight of her grandkids’ lives, and undoubtedly helped keep Sharon engaged while easing the pain of her husband’s passing in 2009.

As Alzheimer’s disease began to diminish Sharon’s faculties, she remained a loving, kind person who kept engaged with the world as best she could. As the disease took its toll, Sharon battled bravely, and retained her love of music, often singing along and even dancing when moved by a familiar tune.

While saddened to lose Sharon, we are grateful for the memories she leaves us. Our love for her lives on, and hers lives on in us.

Sharon was preceded in death by her husband, James, and her brother, Mike. She is survived by her daughter, Alicia; son, Neil; brother and sister-in-law Keith and Gloria Shea of Colorado; sister-in-law Cindy Shea of Kansas; son-in-law, Robb Hibbard; and grandchildren, Kellie Burnett, and Preston, Violet and Alex Hibbard. Other survivors include her brother-in-law Dennis Burnett and wife Sue, of Kansas. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff at Dorset Place Memory Care for taking such excellent care of Sharon, especially during the past year when the family could not be with her due to the pandemic.