Sharon (Perry) Kerner

     Sharon was born April 13th, 1944 in Twin Falls to Fred and Thelma Perry. She was a surprise baby being born when her father was 49 years old and was the youngest of four – Charles, Eileen and Evelyn being her older siblings.

     She grew up with her older sister Evelyn being her best playmate. Sharon was a good student going to school and attending Sunday school in Hazelton with her first classes being in the old Greenwood school house.

     When she was in high school her family moved to Gooding to run a small grocery store. She enjoyed Gooding and was active in student government and made a lot of friends in particular her three closest Judy, Audrey and Joy.

     While still in high school she met her future husband Hershel Kerner. They were cruising main and he was driving a 1959 black Oldsmobile.   She must’ve been quite impressed because after graduation she attended College of Idaho, and after receiving daily letters from Hershel, she decided that she wanted to return home to be with him. Hershel and Sharon were married July 21, 1963 and began their lifelong occupations of farming in North Shoshone on what would later become Bootjack Dairy.

     Sharon started working at the Lincoln County Assessor’s office. Hershel found this to his advantage because she sold him the 4L license plate number 21 when he turned 21 years old. They still have it today.

     They decided to start a family right away. Their oldest Taunia was born in November of 1964. Doug came along two years later. At this time Sharon was a full-time wife and mom but always had her second full-time job as bookkeeper for the dairy.

     After Doug, they took a few years before having more children and boy what a surprise they received. At that time there were no ultrasounds. At the hospital, the doctor said you have a new baby girl Marla. Sharon said I think there’s one more and then there was Mark.  Surprising enough Hershel did not pass out and he went on to tell everyone, “There were two of them!”

     After her children were in school Sharon returned to work at ASCS working there for many years juggling her family and career. Sometime later she decided it was time for a change and left ASCS and becoming the Shoshone school district’s superintendent’s assistant. She really enjoyed this job with its connection to the children and families in the community and becoming very good friends with her working partner Shannon Harris.

     Around this time Hershel and Sharon decided it was time to move off the farm into town.  By this time their sons Mark and Doug were running the dairy. Once in town they were able to change their activities. They spent time attending all the Shoshone High School sporting events, being very active in the Shoshone Golden Years Senior Center, playing cards with their family and friends daily – pinochle and pitch.

     At this point in the Sharon’s life she was able to enjoy her large family including her many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Sharon was the perfect grandmother to all 17 of them. She had the knack of being able to make each one of them feel like they were special and her favorite when they were around. She loved all of her children and was very proud of them.  She helped Doug and Mark with the farm by being able to stretch the milk check to cover the bills. She supported her daughters by giving them advice on how to raise children, cooking and cleaning.  They have fond memories of snapping beans, picking strawberries, gardening and tending flowers.  She also supported her children through schooling.  Taunia an Occupational Therapist, Doug a diesel mechanic, Marla a Nurse Practitioner and Mark an auto mechanic. Right before she died she said “I have the best children and grandchildren in the world and I am so proud of all of them.”

     Some people’s lives slow down after retirement but Sharon’s remained full and busy. She had the responsibility of spoiling Hershel, she had the job of feeding anywhere from 2-20 people at any given time depending on who showed up for lunch or dinner.  She and Hershel had a wonderfull 50th wedding anniversary party 6 years ago last Sunday.  It meant so much to them to being able to celebrate with friends and family.

     Later on, they started their full-time retirement by buying a home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. They immediately fell in love with the southwest -the people, scenery and food. They replaced the Shoshone Senior Center with the Lake Havasu Senior Center, replaced kid sporting events with desert razor riding, going to the Sunday flea market and Shoshone card clubs with many new games of hand and foot, wizard and their favorite Mexican Train. Sharon also played bocce ball 3 days a week by the lake. She also became very adept at using SIRI on her iPhone directing the two of them to several yard sales every weekend finding bargains for themselves and anyone else who needed something.  Many hours of her day were spent letting their dog Leo in and out of the house.  He refused to use the dog door because he knew she would give in and let him inside.

     Also at this time they became very serious about travel visiting all tourist spots in the U.S including Hawaii, going on several trips with Bartlet tours, playing slots at casinos and even flying to Europe with their granddaughter Maycee for a school trip.  Often times Hershel and Sharon would stroll down the streets in these new places hand in hand.

     One of the most important parts of Sharon’s life was living by example. She was a lifelong Christian being a member of Methodist Churches in whatever community she was living in at the time. She attended church services, played the piano and attended Bible studies. She lived her life demonstrating the Lord’s teaching of the putting others first, choosing to always do the right thing, and living honest above everything else. She was an excellent role model for us all.

     This all became especially true following her cancer diagnosis. Despite having a devastating disease, with the awesome help of her husband, she continued to enjoy life and family without complaint despite enduring bouts with surgeries, chemo, radiation and other medical complications. She did her best to live her days keeping any discouragement feelings hidden and participating in life as fully as possible at that time. When asked recently if there’s anything left on her bucket list she was able to say, “No, I’ve done it all.”

     We all are so extremely grateful for everything she has given and taught us as a mom, grandmother, aunt, friend, relative and mentor. We will treasure the time we spent with her and the memories. We are happy that she moved beyond the pain of this worldly life and look forward to the time when we will all be with her again.  She will be missed dearly.

     She is survived by: four children - Taunia Kerner (Tony Harrison), Doug Kerner (Brenda), Marla Van Tassel (Cory), and Mark Kerner; and grandchildren - Brad, Tyler and Maycee Reeder, Jennica, Scott, Rionna, Lucas Kerner, Kris Bellamy and Jennifer Beck and Tea, Patricia, David, and Halle Harrison; and four great grandchildren - Kylan Hall, Isaiah and Hailynn Reeder, and Thomas Beck.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters - Evelyn Haslam and Eileen Peterson; and her brother - Charles Perry.

     A viewing will be held Tuesday, July 23, 2019 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel and again at 9:30 to 10:30 am on Wednesday, July 24 at the Gooding United Methodist Church with a funeral service beginning at 10:30 with a luncheon to follow.

     In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Shoshone United Methodist Church or the Golden Years Senior Center.

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