Dorothy Marie (Purdy) Sharp, 66
Dorothy Marie (Purdy) Sharp, 66, of Eureka, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, peacefully at home in Eureka from a battle with the re-occurrence of breast cancer. Her grace and strength will be forever missed, as well as her friendly smile.
Dorothy was born Sept. 3, 1951, in Eureka to Dale and Marie Purdy, the second of eight. She grew up on the Meadow Home Dairy from birth until October 1971 when she married Darrel Sharp at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church. She continued to be a devout and beloved member of the church.
Dorothy enjoyed the ranch life with its many family and friend gatherings, riding horses, and helping raise younger brothers and sisters. Her horse Cricket seems to be the start of many stories. She was a 4-H club member, played the piano, was in the school band (All-State clarinet); a member of the Honor Society, and a baton twirler. She excelled in home economics, cooking and sewing.
Note: There were no girls’ high school sports at this time, which no doubt she would have also excelled in.
Dorothy received an Associate of Arts degree in business and accounting from Flathead Valley Community College in 1971.
Her first job for the Forest Service was in the summer after she graduated high school. Her first permanent position was at the Flathead National Forest in Kalispell. Over the next 35 years, most of her Forest Service career was in Eureka. The last seven years were in the Regional Office in Missoula where she retired in 2007. In her career, she had many positions and did each of them with accuracy and efficiency. She was well loved by her co-workers and built a tremendous work family.
Dorothy loved following her kids, grandchildren, niece and nephews around the state as they played football, basketball, track and baseball. She was a true Eureka Lion and will be missed at the many sporting events she attended.
Even after family had graduated, she continued to support others she knew and their children. She was an integral part of the Lion’s Den Boosters Club and the summer baseball club. She was active in the church, loved a good ride around the countryside, family gatherings, and caring for her mother. Dorothy was also the financial manager and bookkeeper for the family business as well as a few others. Dorothy’s love, kindness and people skills were unsurpassed. This is most apparent through all the love the family is receiving in return as we mourn our loss of this amazing lady who could make everyone feel so special.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her sisters, baby Patricia Jean who died at birth, and Colleen Stacy whom we still mourn today; her father, Dale Purdy, with whom she was very close; and many aunts, uncles and grandparents who were also deeply loved.
She is survived by her husband, Darrel Sharp; sons, Jason (Nkki) and Jeremy (Sabrina), of Eureka, and daughter, Jennifer
Oas (Brian) of Danville, California; grandchildren, Alyssa Sharp, Caleb Hull, Taylor Sharp, Dylan and Sydney Sharp, Jared
Anderson, Zoa and Isaac Oas; and great-grandchild, Kynzlee Price; mother, Marie (Kuchenski) Purdy; brothers, Russell
(Linda) of Kalispell, Mark (Ivanna) of Valentine, Nebraska, and Joe (Rita) and David (Sue) of Eureka; sisters, Virginia Nichols-Bourassa
(Marty) of Missoula, and Deanna Purdy Curtis (Paul) of Maple Valley, Washington; 41 nieces and nephews and 66 great-nieces and -nephews, all feeling as special as the first. There are also numerous first and second cousins who were always greeted with a warm welcome, an open door to her home and lots of laughs.
A Mass was held on Sept. 23 at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church followed by a celebration of life at Abayance Bay in Rexford. Arrangements were by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Eureka. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.