Sharon was born February 18, 1940, to John and Elma Gioe in Indianapolis, Indiana. She attended Indiana University and Hanover College. She married her husband Tom in 1961 (who was stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis while in the Army), and moved to Wichita, Kansas. Her children, Stephanie was born in 1965 and John was born in 1968. Sharon worked at Indiana University at the Registration Department. She helped the kids sign up for classes and especially enjoyed helping students her children knew. She made a special point to note which I.U. basketball players were the most polite, with Calbert Chaeney being her favorite. It was important to her to be a full time Mom to John and Stephanie. The number one priority to Sharon was her kids and family. She was available to her family at any time for any of their needs. Sharon had Dr. Shafer on speed dial before speed dial existed and would immediately request antibiotics at the slightest sign of a sniffle. She had a great sense of humor and laughed at inappropriate times. She volunteered for “Read Across America” where she helped children learn to read. Sharon’s father’s side was a large Italian family which was largely in Indianapolis and remained close. Sharon loved to cook wonderful dinners with the Italian family recipes. Her best dish was her lasagna which the kids loved to have on their birthdays. Sharon absolutely loved her grand kids. A child once asked if Grandma used to be a doctor, as Sharon was always the first called when one of the kids were sick. Her grand kids were the light of her life.
Sharon was preceded in death by her mother, Elma Gioe, and father, John Gioe and her brother, Stephan Gioe. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Thomas Gilmore; son, John Gilmore; daughter, Stephanie (Gilmore) Sharifi; grandchildren, Dahlia Gilmore, Jeremy Lomax, Jessica Sharifi and Dominique Sharifi. Sharon is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Mendez-Gilmore and her son-in-law, Michael Sharifi.
Sharon was a wonderful loving mother to John and Stephanie, who they will always remember fondly.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, December 20th, 2:00 p.m., at McGilley State Line Chapel, with burial following in Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., prior to the service.
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