Born in Kansas City, MO, to Francis and Tom Miller, Sharyn was the first of three children. Her early years were spent in Oklahoma and Texas before the family settled in Atchison, KS. Alongside her sister, Nancy, Sharyn shared a love of sewing, shopping, and babysitting her younger brother, Tom.
After graduating from Atchison High School in 1964, Sharyn pursued a nursing degree at St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing. It was during this time that she met Darwin Johnson, whom she married in 1967. Darwin's military postings during these early years allowed Sharyn to live and work in places like Biloxi, MS; Caribou, ME; and Alamogordo, NM, where they welcomed their first child, Michelle, in 1971.
In 1973, the couple settled in Olathe, KS, where Sharyn continued her career as a labor and delivery nurse. For the next 30 years, she cared for countless new mothers and their babies. They welcomed two more children: Karyn in 1974 and David in 1976.
Sharyn's life as a working mother of three children was a full one. She was a room mother, a scout leader, and a constant presence at her children's sporting events, from soccer and baseball games to basketball and softball tournaments. Sharyn loved traveling to tournaments across the country, often accompanied by her parents, and meeting up with various family members along the way. A talented seamstress, she made many dresses and Halloween costumes for her young children, a few Homecoming and Prom dresses for her teens, and even a wedding dress for her oldest daughter. Sharyn enjoyed hosting and attending countless family gatherings, filled with the company of a large extended family. She took special pride in the comfort of her older aunts, cousins, and grandparents.
After retiring, she cherished reconnecting with friends from high school and nursing school, enjoying phone calls and weekend get-togethers. Sharyn was blessed with incredible neighbors and friends on Locust Street, whose care and companionship were a source of great comfort to her in her later years. Above all, Sharyn found immeasurable joy in the lives of her children and seven grandchildren. She traveled across the country to visit them in Alabama, Boston, New Mexico, and California, happy to spend time with those she loved most.
Sharyn spent her life caring for her patients, friends, and family, and now, she rests peacefully in the arms of the Lord.
She leaves behind her brother, Tom Miller; daughter, Shelly Gravatt (Lincoln); daughter Karyn Pace (Michael); son David Johnson (Korrie); grandchildren: Kayla, Courtney, Chamberlyn, Haley, Ella, Drew, and Josiah.
