SHARON BARTHOLOMEW BUFFINGTON

(Celebration of Life April 27, 2025)
Sharon Bartholomew Buffington, 80, born in Chicago, Illinois on March 28, 1944, passed away from kidney complications on February 25, 2025, in the hospital in Kansas City, Kansas. She was the daughter of LeRoy W. Bartholomew of Lodi, Wisconsin and Betty J. (Smith) Bartholomew of Evanston, Illinois.
She graduated in 1962 from Webb City High School in Webb City, Missouri.
In 1966, Sharon met Marshall in Springfield, Missouri when they attended Southwest Missouri State College. She was attracted to his sarcastic wit.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education and began her teaching career in Mt. Vernon, Missouri where she fell in love teaching sophomores. She also taught Language Arts, Speech and  Theatre at Ash Grove High School in Ash Grove, Missouri.
After having her daughter, Sharon returned to achieve her Master of Arts in English. She taught Language Arts, Creative Writing, Speech and Theatre at Marion C. Early High School, in Morrisville, Missouri. She continued further with her education earning certification in journalism and sponsored newspaper and yearbook at Springfield Catholic High School in Springfield, Missouri. Sharon and her husband devoted themselves to education and often said so much to the point of sacrificing quality family time.
She volunteered her time and served on several boards for various organizations throughout decades of her life, often time along Marshall’s side.
Sharon was extremely creative.  She loved to sew and often mentioned proudly that her Gramps had taught her. Their first project was on powder blue corduroy.  Neither of them knew about nap and the importance of laying the pattern pieces the same way. The garment fit, but the nap on the front leg was darker than the color on the other side. OOOPS! An expensive lesson learned. She continued to sew, making Stacia’s stage costumes, formals, and a wedding dress from a wretched Vogue pattern.  She and Stacia attended many art classes together through the years- painting, flower arranging, cake decorating, and quilting.  Sadly, she leaves endless unfinished projects.
Sharon has often said Stacia was her greatest achievement. She and her daughter were extremely close, enjoyed one another as “people”, not just as mother-daughter. Stacia could get her to do things she would never have had the courage to try. Sharon told friends that Stacia was her hero and would always try to keep her on track.  They enjoyed several phenomenal trips all over the USA. Their favorite travel was in April 2023, spending a week in New York City where they enjoyed seven Broadway performances in five days. They were planning a trip together to the United Kingdom so she could visit Stonehenge, William Shakespeare’s birthplace, and meet Alan Wynne Summer’s beautiful Welsh family.
Sharon was a member of Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death, and Sleuth’s Ink, the mystery writer’s group in Springfield, Missouri.  She has several short stories in print and a romantic suspense – The Dreamin’ Tree (under penname Sharolynne Barth), a planned series which her daughter plans to finish editing and publish book two, Tangled Dreams.
One of the life lessons Sharon wants to share is to make every single day count.  She never quite learned not to procrastinate.  She would like you to remember her smiling and having fun.
Sharon leaves behind her beloved daughter, Stacia Marie Buffington; sister-in-law, Linda (Deonier) Sills and her husband Marvin Sills; nephew, Lode Wayne Bartholomew; great- nephews and nieces; many friends; countless former students and her sweet kitty, Marmalade.
She was preceded in death by her beloved grandparents, Harry Bythel and Faye Marie (Harmon) Smith; still born son, Michael Stuart Buffington; her parents; uncle, Kenneth L. Bartholomew; brother, Lowell Thomas Bartholomew; nephew, Jonas Ray Bartholomew and her husband of 52 years, Marshall Ralph Buffington.
You are invited to share in the celebration of her life at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at American Legion Post 676, “The Foxhole”, 2350 North Clifton Ave. in Springfield, Missouri. Visitation, meal and celebration will follow the service.  Please wear bright colors to honor Sharon.
In leu of flowers, donations can be made honoring Sharon Buffington to Willard Care to Learn, Attn: Merikate Alexander, 515 East Jackson Street, Willard, MO 65781.