On April 19th, 2024, at the age of 77, our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Sharon Elizabeth (Kearney) Starkey, passed away peacefully after a 48-year battle with Hepatitis C, Liver cancer, Hepatic Encephalopathy, and finally Acute Liver failure. She lived a beautiful life, filled with love, laughter, family, friends and faith… and lots and lots of dogs!
Sharon was the matriarch of our family – a devoted wife to Neal for 55 years, a loving mother to Tracie Lyn and Mitchell Neal, and the most wonderful “Honey” to her four grandchildren: Cale Travis Cormaney (21), Carsyn Elizabeth Cormaney (18), Anna Elizabeth Starkey (17), and Katherine Grace Starkey (13).
Sharon Elizabeth Starkey was born on July 4, 1946, to Richard and Betty Kearney (both deceased) in Pueblo, CO. Sharon was the youngest of the kids with two older brothers… Rick Kearney, an Air Force Veteran (deceased) and Jim Kearney, a Navy Veteran living in Orange, CA. After graduating from Pueblo’s Central High School in 1964, she followed her brothers to the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority. In 1968, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Reading and Literacy. During this time, she would meet the love of her life and husband-to-be, Neal Starkey, on a blind date at a USAF Academy formal dance. Neal and Sharon were married on June 10, 1968, and would be married for 55 years. This love story will be one for the ages…
Sharon’s passion was teaching and children! Her entire life was dedicated to her own children, her four grandchildren and the thousands of children she taught over her 34+ years in education.
Sharon began her teaching career at John Adams Elementary in Colorado Springs School District 11, in August of 1968. Her teaching career included positions at Adams Elementary, Carver Elementary, Keller Elementary, and Scott Elementary. She was a classroom teacher, a reading specialist, a Gifted-and-Talented Coordinator, and a Building Resource Teacher.
When she retired from her illustrious teaching career, she worked with the Advanced Learning Program (ALP) where she mentored new teachers for many years, while being a full-time volunteer in the classrooms of her four grandchildren.
Sharon is survived by her husband, Neal Starkey, their two children: Tracie (Travis) Cormaney of Colorado Springs, and Mitchell (Laura) Starkey of Colorado Springs, her four grandchildren: Cale, Carsyn, Anna and Katie… all of Colorado Springs, plus her older brother, Jim Kearney of Orange, CA.
Sharon’s passion for life, love for her family, and footprint on education across Southern Colorado will never be forgotten. Sharon’s smile and spirit will live forever in the thousands of hearts of the people she has impacted- Everyone loved HONEY!
Sharon’s celebration of life will be on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 10:00am at Swan-Law Funeral Home, located at 501 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903… with interment following immediately at the United States Air Force Academy cemetery.
An informal reception will follow at the Hampton Inn and Suites, 1307 Republic Drive, in Colorado Springs, CO, 80921.
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