Mel Sharon, 88, died peacefully in his home under hospice care on Sunday, February 2nd, 2025.
A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 14th, 2025 at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Marshall, Missouri with Rev. Dr. Phil Olsen officiating. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. Inurnment of both Mel and Katie with military honors will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, MO. Memorials are suggested to Laura Beasley, as the total will be divided between Covenant Presbyterian Church, Marshall Kiwanis Club, and the Katie Sharon “Read with Me” Children’s Book Award given yearly to a classroom teacher.
Melvin Dee Sharon was born in his Uncle Dee’s farm house in Dallas County, Iowa, Des Moines Township on September 12th, 1936 to Mildred Evelyn Lytle and Seth Robert Sharon.
He was a hard worker even as a young man, working at the dairy farm on which his family lived and worked and in his father’s store, Sharon Feed and Produce. He was a key player on his high school basketball, baseball, and softball teams, and played coronet in his high school band. He also played minor league baseball after high school.
Mel met his sweetheart, Katie, when he took a job his senior year as a school bus driver. He invited her to sit next to him and run the bus stop sign, and the rest is history. He graduated from Olin High School in 1954. He then attended Central College in Pella, IA for one year on a softball scholarship as a catcher. He painted houses and washed dishes at a restaurant where the generous owner gave him a hot beef sandwich each night to help him make ends meet. He then served his country by joining the Air Force and was deployed post Korean war to Okinawa. He bought Katie’s engagement ring there, and they married on June 7, 1958. They were married for 65 years. Mel passed 28 hours prior to the first anniversary of Katie’s death. He couldn’t be without her even one more day.
He took a job at Wilson Foods and was promoted and transferred to plants in Cedar Rapids, IA; Albert Lea, Minnesota; Kansas City, MO; and finally Marshall, MO where he served as Comptroller for over 20 years. He further worked for Doskocil, Thornapple Valley, Concordia Foods, and Riggins R Co. He volunteered his accounting skills to Covenant Presbyterian Church, Kiwanis, the new Saline County Jail, and the Nicholas – Beazley Aviation Museum.
He was also a dedicated servant of his community. He was a long-term member of the Marshall Kiwanis Club, and served as an Auxiliary Sherrif’s Deputy for the Saline County Sherriff’s Department. Mel and Katie were also members of the Boots and Slippers Square Dance Club for several years.
He loved God, his family, and his country, in that order. A life-long Christian with a strong faith, he was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church since 1976 and had served in many capacities there. Mel loved to hunt, fish, camp, travel, square dance, water ski, snow ski, golf, drive, play family board games, and was a KC Royals and KC Chiefs fan. He was an expert grill master and turkey carver and always gave the family prayer before meals. He always looked forward to attending his children’s, grandchildren’s, and great grandchildren’s sporting events and school activities, always cheering them on and giving words of encouragement. He enjoyed attending live concerts, with the especially the Marshall Philharmonic and Municipal Band.
Even though he was always a gentle man, he once killed a rattlesnake with a shovel that surprised him in the garage, bravely protecting his wife and young daughter. He enjoyed telling jokes and was always interested in making people laugh, often greeting people with his latest “what’s in the box” surprise jokes. He liked handing out “Chicken Poop” lip balm to friends and relished their reaction to the name.
Mel made friends all over the world, especially in every state that he and his family lived. His friends and family have said that he was one of the most honest, kindest, nicest, and most generous men they had ever known. His favorite sayings were “You can catch more bees with honey” and “It’s better to be seen than viewed”. Words to live by.
Left to honor his memory are his sister, with whom he shared a birthday, Linda (Dick) Clark of West Des Moines, IA; brother Keith Sharon of Coralville, IA ; daughter Melany (Mark) Duncan of Olathe, KS; daughter Laura (Randy) Beasley of Marshall; granddaughter Michelle (Jesus) Cabrera of Olathe; granddaughter Melissa (Tim) Sanford of Olathe; grandson Truman (Allie) Beasley of Greenwood, MO; grandson Zach Duncan of Olathe; and granddaughter Jessica (Wyatt) Vancamp of Antoine, AR; great grandchildren Kaylee Bliss, Landon Sanford, Lawson Sanford, Aubree Cabrera, Elizabeth Beasley, and John Henry Vancamp; and several wonderful nieces, nephews, and cousins that he always made feel special.
Greeting him in heaven were his parents, his beloved Katie, and a brother, Robert Sharon.