Eleanor Sharrett

On February 4th at 6:00 a.m. Eleanor traveled to her heavenly home.  She ended a 30 year struggle against spinal cerebral degeneration at the age of 84 years old.    Her life started in Corydon, Iowa; born third in a family of 10 children to Lee and Ruby Speer.  The family lived in Timberlake, South Dakota during her school age years.  She moved to Port Orchard in 1942 where she graduated from South Kitsap Union High School in 1943.  Lester Sharrett came into her life and they were married February 1, 1947 at the First Christian Church.  Eleanor’s professional life was as a book keeper at Swedish Hospital, Harrison Hospital, for Dr. Robert Merley and at Port Orchard Care Center.  Always interested in her children’s activities, she was a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, an active member of the PTA and coordinator of the yearly EPO Spaghetti Dinner,  the operator of the Little League concession stand, and Mother Advisor of the Rainbow for Girls.  Eleanor enjoyed her years of singing in the church choir at Port Orchard United Methodist Church, was a life member of Port Orchard Order of the Eastern Star in which she was honored as a Deputy Instructor and a Grand Representative, and volunteered for Senior Outreach Support Services.  Eleanor and Lester enjoyed traveling each year to their “snow bird” home in Quartzite, Arizona and fishing every spring in Eastern Washington.  Eleanor was always ready for a game of cards or Mexican Train and many times came out the winner. Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband Lester and her parents Lee and Ruby, her brothers Leland, Leslie, Lynn and Lewie and her sisters Rose Marie, Colleen (Strittmatter) Chaplin and Arliss Kauffman.  She is survived by her children; Larry {Cathy}, Allen {Caroline}, and Terry {Jim} Nygard, all of Port Orchard.  She also leaves her Grandchildren Isaac {Amy}, Anne, Joey {Alexa}, Eric {Amber}, Justin, and Joanna and Great Grandchildren Nathan, Addison, Ava, Audree and Olivia. Eleanor’s family would especially like to thank the staff at Stafford Suites in Port Orchard for their loving care to both of our parents during their years of living there.  Also our gratitude goes to Amanda, Laurie and Noreen of Abiding Home Care for their attentive care giving and to Kitsap County Hospice for helping guide us through the last month.   A Memorial Service to celebrate Eleanor’s life will be at Rill’s Life Tribute Center at 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 11, 2011. A private burial will precede the service at 1:00 p.m. Memorials in her memory can be made to Port Orchard United Methodist Church, 725 Kitsap Street, Port Orchard, WA  98366.  Online memorial at www.rill.com