Sharrie Shelton Duncan, 48

Sharrie Shelton Duncan, 48, died May 16, 2010, in Positano, Italy. She was born July 13,1961, to Charles and Margie Shelton in Butte. She is survived by her husband, Gil Duncan; son, Shane Duncan; stepson, Aaron Duncan; mother, Margie Milaney, and her husband, Terrence Milaney; father, Charles Shelton, and his wife, Patty Shelton; brother, Randy Shelton, and his wife, Kaydel Shelton; sister, Shayne Hendrix, and her husband, Mark Hendrix; sister, Staci Martin, and her husband, Kenny Martin; nephews, Sam Shelton, Cade Estes and Mark Estes; and niece, Tessa Shelton; and many others considered her family who lived in her local neighborhoods, Seattle, and places as far away as England, Germany and Italy. Sharrie lost her life on May 16 due to drowning in Positano, Italy, as she was attempting to get her 12-year-old son Shane back to safety. She grew up in Kalispell where she attended Cornelius Hedges Elementary School, Linderman Junior High and Kalispell Junior High, until graduating from Flathead High School in 1979. She was awarded a track scholarship to attend Montana State University where she graduated in 1984. Sharrie was a tremendous track athlete from the first time she stepped on to a track. Although, due to her complete and utter modesty, you would never have known her long jumping ability was legendary, setting a Montana state record, a Meet of Champion record, and still holding the AA divisional long jump record set over 30 years ago. She truly loved her childhood years swimming and diving at Woodland Park pool, running track, riding horses and being a part of her family she so passionately cherished. While a sophomore in high school she began dating Mike Nichols who became her husband in 1987. They lived in Seattle where she worked for The Boeing Company for about 10 years; it was shortly thereafter her marriage to Mike ended. Sharrie started her European excursion when she relocated to England where she married Gil Duncan on July 15, 1997. It was in England where their son Shane, the sunshine of her life, was born. The majority of the years between 1997 and 2010 were spent traveling throughout Europe where she became quite a well-known personality of all cities where she lived. Her examples of love and kindness were often shared with life s less fortunate throughout her travels, and in doing so, she never sought credit for any kind deed, of which she did many. While Sharrie was well known and loved for her passion for life, her love for her family and her competitive spirit which carried forward in all aspects of her life, it was her love for her son Shane that was her greatest and most admired quality. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held to honor her life at 11 a.m. Monday June 7, at Easthaven Baptist Church. Sharrie s family will place her ashes near those of her beloved grandmother, Helen Simonich, at Glacier Memorial Gardens in a private family gathering immediately following the service. Everyone is invited to share their memories and love at a reception being held at the Siderius Farm immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Flathead Food Bank, 1203 U.S. Highway 2 W., No. 2, Kalispell, MT 59901.