Sharon Burton (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Wanda Sharon Burton, daughter of Joseph E. and Winnie C. Melton White, was born March 22, 1943, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She departed this life Sunday, July 12, 2015, in Menorah Medical Center, in Leawood, Kansas, at the age of seventy-two years, three months, and twenty days.
Her parents preceded her in death.
Sharon is survived by a daughter, Lisa Coughlan, and her husband, Mick, of Leawood, Kansas; a son, Michael Burton, of San Diego, California; a grandson, Fletcher; a brother, Joseph White, of the State of California; a sister, Pam Dunlavy, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was born and raised in Oklahoma, and after graduating from high school, she went to Oklahoma State University where she majored in Health and Recreation. Her first job was as a life guard and swimming instructor and continued to work summers at pools in Tulsa while going to college. In her senior year, she met her future husband, who was also a life guard, and following her graduation they were married that August. They immediately moved to California where Sharon got her first teaching job at a high school near Martinez, teaching Physical Education and English. Through the years, Sharon taught in several different cities and always loved working with the students. Both of her children, Lisa and Michael were born in California, and when they were four and two years old, the family moved to Jenks, Oklahoma. Sharon opened a day care center so she could stay at home with her children. They eventually moved to Missouri, and soon made their home in Lebanon, where the children attended school and Sharon taught at Fort Leonard Wood. After some major health issues, she moved to Lamar Court in Overland Park, Kansas and made her home.
Sharon made her profession of faith in Christ early in her life and was a member of First Baptist Church in Lebanon where she enjoyed singing in the choir. She had attended churches in the Overland Park area for the last several years.
She was very proud of her children; her son, Michael, who served in the United States Marine Corps, and Lisa, who is working for Sprint. The greatest gift she ever received was her grandson, Fletcher. In her spare time she enjoyed reading, and the activities at Lamar Court, including bingo, playing games, going on outings, and taking exercise class. She possessed a keen sense of humor and loved to laugh.
Sharon was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and know that her family and friends will cherish the wonderful memories she created for them during her lifetime.
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