Ethel Mae Sharp, 96, died June 14, 2003 at Josephine Sunset Home in Stanwood. She was born in Windsor (Henry County) Ind., Aug. 4, 1906, to John Wesley and Harriet Eveline (Brown) King; Ethel’s mother was one-half Cherokee Indian. Ethel was raised in Marion, Ind. She was one of five children abandoned by her parents.
Ethel and her two brothers and two sisters were raised in a variety of foster homes. Ethel grew up on a stock farm, working in a milk house. She quit school after the eighth grade and attended night school, where she learned shorthand and dictation.
Ethel found work in a grocery story for a time and then worked as an inspector at a glove factory, making one dollar per day and working six days a week. While at the factory, she was reunited with her brother Howard King. She later obtained a job as a ticket agent for the bus company. While working at the bus depot, she met a stranded passenger, Jesse Sharp, who was on leave from the U. S. Navy. Jesse returned to the Navy and at the end of his four-year enlistment, returned to Indiana.
Ethel and Jesse were married in Marion, Ind., Nov. 14, 1923. Jesse was employed at the bus depot garage and Ethel worked in the office. Ethel quit her job to raise three children: Duris, Floyd and Twila.
In 1929, the Sharp’s lost their home and their work to the Great Depression. Jesse’s parents moved in with Ethel and Jesse. Son Duris developed a lung disease and the doctors said he should move to a warm, dry climate. The family moved to Los Angeles. Jesse eventually returned to the Navy and was stationed at San Diego. Jesse’s parents moved in with them and the family was transferred to Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina and several trips to California.
The Sharp family first arrived at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in 1943. They were sent on to Alaska, Florida, California and back to Oak Harbor. Following Jesse’s retirement, the Sharps spent five years traveling.
Ethel spent a few years, following Jesse’s death, living outside Phoenix, Ariz., where Ethel collected turquoise for son Floyd’s jewelry making. She was a licensed facial massage helper at a beauty shop for two years. For several years, the Sharp’s lived in LaConner and finally settled in Oak Harbor. Over the years, Ethel worked as a seamstress, label maker for a coffee company, factory worker, steel mill worker, chicken restaurant owner, photographer and bookkeeper.
Ethel is survived by seven grandchildren: Donna (Walter) McKinney of Marysville; Jay (Marci) Norton of Anacortes; Randy (Linda) Sharp of Randle; Charles “Chic” (Dawna) Sharp of Revelstoke, B.C.; and Todd (Barb) Sharp of Bellingham; Glenda Sharp Waterman and Ronald Sharp, both of Ypsilanti, Mich., 13 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Private family graveside services will be held at Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery, Seattle. Memorial services for Ethel Sharp will be held at Burley Funeral Chapel, at 11 a.m. Friday, June 20. Chaplain Mark Powers of Providence Hospice of Snohomish County will officiate.
The family wishes to express special thanks to Providence Hospice of Snohomish County and Dr. Lee Roof for their exceptional kindness to Ethel.
Arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel. This obituary is on-line at http://burley.plan4ever.com
