Sharon Belle Sears

Sharon Belle Sears Obituary Sharon Belle (Barwick) Sears of Bailey, Colorado passed into heaven on August 27, 2013 at the age of 68. Sharon was born on January 30, 1945 to Clarence Junior and Ella Belle (Ralston) Barwick in Cherokee, Iowa. She spent all of her childhood on her family†™s farm outside of Pierson, Iowa with her parents and two brothers, Steven and Sidney. In 1962, she graduated from high school in Marcus, Iowa and continued her education at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, where she met her husband, Jerry Sears. They were married on June 6, 1966, the day after college graduation. After living in the Des Moines, Iowa area for 8 years, Sharon and Jerry moved to Sheldon, Iowa where they raised their children, Jennifer Belle and Wade. Sharon spent much of her life in education as a teacher, librarian and counselor and received her Masters in counseling in 1996. One of her favorite places was Lake Okoboji in Iowa where she spent over 50 summers waterskiing and boating. Sharon and Jerry moved to Bailey, Colorado in 2006, where she was able to retire, spend her days in the mountains, and be close to her youngest grandchildren. In retirement, she was very involved in Conifer Newcomers and Neighbors and the Platte Canyon Community Church. Sharon enjoyed strolling on mountain trails in search of wildflowers and waterfalls, sitting on her deck enjoying the view, collecting rocks, gardening, photography and playing bridge. Most of all, she loved anything that involved her family and considered the title of Grandma to be her highest honor. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents and her brother-in-law, Rony Sears. She is survived by her husband, Jerry Sears of Bailey, Colorado; her daughter Jennifer Belle Lapke and her husband Jim of Olathe, Kansas; her son Wade Sears and his wife Sarah of Westminster, Colorado; her four grandchildren: Josie Belle Lapke, Jack Lapke, Parker Barwick Sears and Sawyer Sears; her two brothers: Steven Barwick and his wife Marti of Bloomington, Illinois and Sidney Barwick and his wife Sherry of Collierville, Tennessee; her sister-in-law: Sue Sears of Milford, Iowa; her nephews: Scott, James, Jayson and Luke; and her nieces: Kelly, Kristina and Rhonda. Services will be held at Platte Canyon Community Church, 4954 County Road 64, Bailey, Colorado 80421 on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 10:30 AM. A reception luncheon will be held immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, any contribution to her memory will be used for a memorial stone bench and tree to be placed in a Colorado park for all to enjoy and marvel at nature†™s beauty, just as Sharon did.