Sharon Marie Burton, 63

Sharon Marie Burton, 63, "traveled peacefully to the glorious other side in her sleep," Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007. Sharon was born July 2, 1943, in Pasco, Wash. Shortly after, her family moved to Libby, where she grew up.

During those years she served in the Civil Air Patrol, married, had two daughters and was employed by the U.S. Forest Service as a tree planter.

During the early '70s, Sharon and her family moved to Kalispell, where she lived out her life.

During those years, she went to C and C Beauty School, and became a hairdresser. She worked for a short time at the B and B Beauty Salon, then worked for more than 30 years at the Country Curl Beauty Salon. During this time, she divorced, then met the love of her life, Don Burton.

They recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. One of her proud accomplishments in her life was writing a winning essay to the American Diabetes Foundation. She won a trip to Washington, D.C., and took along her grandson, Nicholas Handford, who was her inspiration. During this trip, she met Gladys Knight and her family.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Valmeda Cole, and a brother, David Cole.

She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Don Burton, of Kalispell; daughters, Barbara Handford and her life mate, Rusty Hayek, of Kalispell, and MarIa Handford of Nashville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Amber Thompson, Chris Handford and his fiancee, Daisy Berg, Nicholas Handford, Austin Csikasz, Levi Handford and Chance Handford; one great-grandson; and another light in her life, Gabriel Thompson.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, with the Rev. David Sprunger officiating. Cremation will take place after the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Foundation.

Buffalo Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.