Obituary of Sharon L. Neese

Sharon Neese was the daughter of Samuel "Dick" Graham & Geraldine McCarty Endicott. She was born in Fort Branch, Indiana and received her degree in teaching from Ball State University. Sharon first met her husband Frank at Hanover College where they were both campers at church camp. They met again at PYOCA Presbyterian Church Camp when they were both church camp counselors. All 3 of their children attended PYOCA and her grandson Bryan was ultimately a counselor at PYOCA. Frank lived in Indianapolis and Sharon in Muncie but Sharon invited Frank to a campus dance and they continued to correspond via the US Mail. Sharon and Frank were married and settled in Speedway in one 1/2 of a double that they owned along with Frank's widowed mother on the other side. Construction on their new home was officially stated the day their oldest son Kevin was born. They raised their 3 children, Kevin Neese (Peggy), Dawn Barringer (Matt) and Bryan Neese (Erica) in the same through at least 3 home additions over the years. Sharon was the true matriarch of the family and hosted every holiday and special occasion, including Bryan and Erica's wedding rehearsal dinner. Sharon has 3 granddaughter, Caitlin Barringer, Rebecca Neese and Elizabeth Barringer and 5 grandsons; Bryan Neese (Sarah), Michael Neese, Steele Neese, Aaron Neese & Stone Neese (Julia). In addition she has 3 great-grandchildren, Lilly, Carter & Collin Neese and was looking forward to the arrival of a new great-grandchild. Sharon loved her grandchildren and relished every phone call and visit. No detail about your classes, work, or life was too large or small for her; she simply wanted to enjoy everything with you. Several of her grandchildren called multiple times a week or on a specific day of the week. Even her great-granddaughter Lilly had started calling her each week. She enjoyed every one of Steele's stories about his work at Southwest and loved to hear about Becca's new projects whether they were art, garden or her pets. Sharon had a very special relationship with her grandson Michael and he attended church with them every Sunday. Sharon and Frank are world travelers and it was normal for Sharon to be planning at least one trip all the time. They were scheduled to go to Oberammergau Germany for the Passion Play in less than 2 months (which had been cancelled) and she wanted to go back to Yellowstone National Park this year. When their children were younger they traveled all across the United States visiting almost all 50 states, staying in hotels, camping in a 5 person tent and sometimes pulling a pop-up trailer. After the kids were in in their teens they started traveling the world and ultimately visiting almost every continent. It would be easier to name the countries they haven't been to rather than those they have visited. Her most recent international trip was visiting Japan with Frank and her granddaughters Caitlin and Elizabeth so that she could go to Tokyo Disneyland on her 80th Birthday. They hired a personal guide who questioned whether Sharon and Frank could make it up the mountain to visit the wild monkey sanctuary, but of course Sharon told them they could. Of course they both made it up the mountain. Sharon loves unique experiences while traveling. This photo of Sharon was taken about 3 years ago while she was feeding moose in Denmark. Sharon and Frank are active members of St Luke's United Methodist Church. They took many trips with other members of St Luke's including 2 trips to the Holy Land. Sharon was an excellent soprano and was a much sought after soloist. Both Sharon and Frank always sang in their church choir but when they joined St Lukes UMC about 20 years ago Sharon no longer sang in the choir because she was concerned that she had lost some of her range, but her voice still sounded great and could make heads turn when she hit those really high notes. She loved to sing with the grandkids and they remember specific songs she would sing with them. Sharon was a stay at home mom for the first 10 years doing substitute teaching after which she worked for the next 10 years in the family businesses including Capital Dodge. Sharon went back to teaching after she received her Masters from Butler University. Sharon inspired her son Bryan to follow in her footsteps to become a teacher and coach. Sharon was a huge sports fan and for many years went to every football game Bryan coached. Sharon loved woven rugs and decided when she was in her 50's that she was going to learn how to weave. She went to John C Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC to learn to weave, returning many times over the next few years for additional training. She was a member of the Indy Weavers Guild and demonstrated spinning at the State Fair and weaving at schools and conferences. Her granddaughter Elizabeth would sit on the bench and help her throw the shuttle every afternoon. It wasn't until years later that she figured out that weaving wasn't something that every one's grandmother did in the afternoon. Sharon was a very talented fabric artist and her rugs were much sought and appreciated. Sharon passed away on April 15, 2020 and entombed at Washington Park North Cemetery on April 18th following a family only graveside service. Sharon was a strong supporter of the Crooked Creek Food Pantry and the family is requesting that remembrances be made in the form of a donation to Crooked Creek Food Pantry c/o St Luke's UMC, 100 W 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260-2316