Sharon Dee Van Hoy Stayton, Oregon Obituary

Sharon Dee Van Hoy

Sharon Dee Van Hoy was born in Medford, Oregon, on March 1, 1946, to Henry “Hank” Louis and Doris Viola (Shafer) Wilson. She was raised with a brother and a sister in the Rogue Valley of Oregon. From a young age, Sharon was showing horses, earning multiple FFA and 4-H Championships all over the Northwest. After graduating from Crater High School in 1964, Sharon attended college and trained as an EMT. She took a job in Portland as a medic, thoroughly enjoying her career until a freak accident sidelined her. The ambulance she was working on was running code to the hospital when they hit a manhole cover in the road and Sharon was thrown through the windshield. She swears the only thing that saved her life was her Aquanet hairspray-laden beehive hairdo acting as a helmet. Sharon headed back to Southern Oregon to recover with every intention of returning to her job in Portland, until she became a mother and made the choice not to return to the city. Sharon and her high school sweetheart, Earl Van Hoy, were married in 1969 and Earl adopted Sharon’s two daughters and lovingly raised them as his own. The couple had one son together and settled in the Rogue Valley to raise their family. Sharon raised her own meat at home, mostly cows but also goats and chickens. She also provided meat through her skill in hunting, as she was a crack shot with her 243 she named Blondie after the beautiful blonde wood stock that her husband lovingly sanded and restored for her.Sharon took schooling in the legal field and worked as a paralegal for several years, but always was a very involved mother and homemaker. She loved everyone and everyone loved her, and their home was the gathering place for many. Sharon always made sure everyone was fed and cared for. Somehow, she always found time to support all of her children’s activities including 4-H, FFA, training dogs and horses, and riding lessons. As a voracious reader of every type of material, Sharon instilled her love of learning in her children and taught them all to read at an early age. Although life was not always easy, no matter how many times she got knocked down, Sharon always got back up again and rose to the challenges that she was confronted with. The trials she endured gave Sharon a strength she may not have had otherwise, and she used her experiences to encourage other young women to be strong and take control of their lives. Although Sharon and Earl ended their marriage in 1989, the couple remained close and deeply cared for one another. Five years ago, Sharon left the Rogue Valley for a grand adventure with her daughter April and son-in-law Kevin, living with them for a time in Eastern Oregon before heading the Willamette Valley where she would spend the rest of her days. The years with her daughter and family were wonderful and many cherished memories were made. Over the years, Sharon valiantly fought several health issues, never complaining and always making the best of things, until her battle finally ended on October 25, 2020. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Kelly. She is survived by those who loved her dearly including her children April (Kevin) Morris, Kellie (Kris) Owens, and Erin Van Hoy; many bonus kids including Racheal (Jim) Lomas; sister Tallie (Bruce) Thompson; numerous grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. The family will hold a celebration of Sharon’s life in the spring.
March 1, 1946 - October 25, 202003/01/194610/25/2020
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Sharon Dee Van Hoy was born in Medford, Oregon, on March 1, 1946, to Henry “Hank” Louis and Doris Viola (Shafer) Wilson. She was raised with a brother and a sister in the Rogue Valley of Oregon. From a young age, Sharon was showing horses, earning multiple FFA and 4-H Championships all over the Northwest. After graduating from Crater High School in 1964, Sharon attended college and trained as an EMT. She took a job in Portland as a medic, thoroughly enjoying her career until a freak accident sidelined her. The ambulance she was working on was running code to the hospital when they hit a manhole cover in the road and Sharon was thrown through the windshield. She swears the only thing that saved her life was her Aquanet hairspray-laden beehive hairdo acting as a helmet. Sharon headed back to Southern Oregon to recover with every intention of returning to her job in Portland, until she became a mother and made the choice not to return to the city. Sharon and her high school sweetheart, Earl Van Hoy, were married in 1969 and Earl adopted Sharon’s two daughters and lovingly raised them as his own. The couple had one son together and settled in the Rogue Valley to raise their family. Sharon raised her own meat at home, mostly cows but also goats and chickens. She also provided meat through her skill in hunting, as she was a crack shot with her 243 she named Blondie after the beautiful blonde wood stock that her husband lovingly sanded and restored for her.Sharon took schooling in the legal field and worked as a paralegal for several years, but always was a very involved mother and homemaker. She loved everyone and everyone loved her, and their home was the gathering place for many. Sharon always made sure everyone was fed and cared for. Somehow, she always found time to support all of her children’s activities including 4-H, FFA, training dogs and horses, and riding lessons. As a voracious reader of every type of material, Sharon instilled her love of learning in her children and taught them all to read at an early age. Although life was not always easy, no matter how many times she got knocked down, Sharon always got back up again and rose to the challenges that she was confronted with. The trials she endured gave Sharon a strength she may not have had otherwise, and she used her experiences to encourage other young women to be strong and take control of their lives. Although Sharon and Earl ended their marriage in 1989, the couple remained close and deeply cared for one another. Five years ago, Sharon left the Rogue Valley for a grand adventure with her daughter April and son-in-law Kevin, living with them for a time in Eastern Oregon before heading the Willamette Valley where she would spend the rest of her days. The years with her daughter and family were wonderful and many cherished memories were made. Over the years, Sharon valiantly fought several health issues, never complaining and always making the best of things, until her battle finally ended on October 25, 2020. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Kelly. She is survived by those who loved her dearly including her children April (Kevin) Morris, Kellie (Kris) Owens, and Erin Van Hoy; many bonus kids including Racheal (Jim) Lomas; sister Tallie (Bruce) Thompson; numerous grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. The family will hold a celebration of Sharon’s life in the spring.

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