Sharon Elizabeth Kelley Wainwright of La Grande passed away on Oct. 28, 2020 in Boise, Idaho following a brief illness at the age of 76.
She was born on Oct. 27, 1944 in Yakima, Wash. to Marvin and Gertie Kelley.
She grew up in the Mabton/Grandview, Wash. areas and graduated from Mabton High School. Summers throughout her high school years were spent with the Pruett family in Connell, Wash. She primarily helped to take care of the children but was also known to lend a hand with any project around the farm. Sharon loved to share memories and stories from her time there, and the relationships built with the members of the Pruett family became life-long friendships.
After graduation from high school, Sharon attended business school in Boise, Idaho for a short time. On Sept. 5, 1966, she married Dale Wainwright. Their union resulted in three children, three grandchildren and 55 years of marriage. Throughout their marriage, Dale and Sharon lived in various places. The most notable are Yakima, Wash., Umatilla for 40 years, and most recently, La Grande.
Sharon worked various jobs throughout her lifetime. She worked at the Prosser Hospital, was a kindergarten teacher’s aide, and even spent some time merchandising greeting cards. Her greatest and most important job, however, was being a homemaker.
Many hobbies and interests occupied Sharon’s free time. She enjoyed doing crochet and embroidery, assembling jigsaw puzzles, bowling and watching sports on TV, and she delighted in the times spent with family while camping. Later in life, her interests included crossword puzzles and word games and drives around the area to see the scenery, and she especially cherished any
time spent with her grandsons. Sharon also especially loved the ocean and waited with anticipation for her yearly trip to the Oregon coast.
Sharon is survived by her husband of 55 years, Dale Wainwright of La Grande; sons, Bill (Debra) Wainwright of Umatilla and Kris (Tracy) Wainwright of Bellingham, Wash.; daughter, Tiffany (W. Richard) White of La Grande; grandsons, Cameron (Savanah) Wainwright of Bellingham, Wash., Logan Wainwright of Bellingham, Wash. and Dakoda White of La Grande; brothers, James (Hella) Kelley of Sunnyside, Wash., Robert Kelley of Sunnyside and Larry (Pam) Kelley of Sherman, Texas; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Gertie Kelley; sister, Joyce Young; brother, Arvid Kelley; and numerous aunts and uncles.
Per Sharon’s request, no memorial service is planned.
Please share memories of Sharon with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
