Iris Sharpe Kroon, a descendant of Washington Territorial pioneers, was born on Feb. 11, 1917, near Leavenworth. She passed away in Coupeville on Aug. 19, 2006. Iris graduated from Wenatchee High School, and shortly there after relocated to Olympia. While living in Olympia, Iris worked as a secretary for her local member of the State Legislature.

In the late 1930s, Iris attended Simpson Bible Institute (Simpson University), then located in Seattle. She later became the office manager for Addressograph. While working in Seattle Iris met and married Melvin Kroon. Together they were married for 53 years and had seven children. The Kroons were founding members of North Seattle Alliance Church. Iris and Mel came to Whidbey Island in 1965 to manage Camp Casey for Seattle Pacific University. During this time Iris handled all the reservations and billings for the field campus and worked at Coupeville High School as a secretary.

In 1968 Iris decided to complete college by attending Seattle Pacific College. She graduated with a teaching certificate in 1970 and, for a number of years, greatly enjoyed teaching first and second grade students at Oak Harbor Elementary.

Travel was one of Iris’ passions. Together, she and Mel visited five of the seven continents. Iris participated in a number of community groups including the Coupeville Methodist Church, Central Whidbey Lion’s Club, Bishop Hospital Guild at Whidbey General Hospital, the Island County Historical Society Museum and she attended many retired teacher functions.

Iris was proceeded in death by her husband Melvin, sister Bernice Henderson, and brothers Owen and Irving Sharpe. She is survived by daughters Carolyn Kroon of Washington, D.C., Marjory (Rodney) Homan and Jeannette (Osman) Omar of Coupeville and Bonnie (Douglas) Roulstone of Snohomish; sons M. Thomas (Gwen Ann) Kroon of Seattle, Douglas (Martin) Kroon of Riverside, Calif., and Jerry (Roxanne) Kroon of Bellevue. Iris is also survived by her brother Cameron Sharpe of Phoenix, Ariz., sister Jean Phillips of Wenatchee, 13 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A service remembering Iris’ life will be held at the Coupeville United Methodist Church on Friday, Sept. 1 at 2 p.m. The family suggests memorials be sent to the Central Whidbey Lions Club, Coupeville United Methodist Women, Seattle Pacific University, Children’s Hospital Seattle or the Bishop Guild at Whidbey General Hospital.