Sharon Simons

Sharon Ann Simons passed peacefully on Saturday, July 9 at her Wilderness Ranch home near Boise, Idaho. She was surrounded by family and her loving dog Lefty. 

Sharon was born on November 24,1957 in Tacoma, Washington to Bob and Marion Reall while Bob was stationed at Fort Lewis. When Bob completed his military service, the family relocated to the east coast where Sharon grew up in Smithfield, Rhode Island. There she developed her passion for horses and her love for animals.

In 1985 Sharon married Patrick Simons and moved to Topeka, Kansas. While in Kansas Sharon had a successful career in the insurance industry. In 1987 they moved to a small farm north of Topeka near the town of Hoyt, Kansas where they had horses, dogs and a variety of small animals. While living on the farm in Kansas they were blessed with their only son, Benjamin Robert, on December 27, 1989.  

In the summer of 1996 Sharon and her family moved to Boise, Idaho. In Boise Sharon began working at Mountain Cove High School as a Special Education Aide and then at Frank Church High School as an Academic Interventionist. Working at the alternative school proved to be her true calling. Sharon found it very rewarding helping students understand math and English. Always looking for ways to better help the students Sharon enrolled at Treasure Valley Community College for her Associates Degree in Education. She graduated in 2005 as class valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 grade point average and was recipient of the Dean’s most outstanding student award. Her passion to help as well as her kindness and generosity became her legacy among students and staff. She worked tirelessly on the annual Thanksgiving dinners for the students and on the Potlatch program where clothing items such as winter coats, shoes, boots and any other article of clothing were collected for students that might need them.  

Sharon was widely known for her sweet tooth and was often referred to as ‘the squirrel’ for ‘squirreling away’ small bags of candy at hidden locations about the house. At school Sharon would have candy stashed in her desk drawers and students would come by Mrs. Simons desk looking for a mid-day snack. 

Sharon loved hockey and truly enjoyed the outdoors. Crappie fishing, camping, hiking, mushroom hunting and huckleberry picking were among her favorite outdoors activities. But more than anything, Sharon loved people. She had an infectious smile and kind blue eyes and an enormous heart. She was an incredibly sweet, kind and giving person with incredible strength and always carried herself with grace and dignity. There was never a cause or challenge too big for Sharon to take on.  

Sharon was a loving mother, a devoted wife and a great friend to all. She was loved dearly by her siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was a champion for all animals and loved the pets she was always surrounded by. Anyone and everyone who knew Sharon knew that they were fortunate to be able to share time with her.  

Sharon is survived by her husband Pat, son Benjamin, sisters Susan (Peter), Marcia (Frank), and Beth (Bill) and brothers Bob (Kathy) and Chris (Michelle).

A memorial service for Sharon will be at 1:00 pm on Sunday July 17 at the Heart of Dharma located at 1627 S. Orchard Street, Suite 200.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Idaho Humane Society, the American Cancer Society, or the American Heart Association.