Sharon Elaine Stephenson

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." 

Sharon Stephenson, known to everyone as “Nana”, passed on a Tuesday morning, November 11, 2020.  She suffered from vascular dementia and was moved to Assisted Living January 2019.  She passed from complications from hip surgery due to a fall on October 21, 2020.  Thankfully, she was close to her daughter, Dena, and son, Scott, and their families.  There were constant sleep-overs and trips to Chick-Fil-A for vanilla milkshakes and stashes of Reese’s peanut butter cups and Werther’s candies.  Her obituary is posted in Groesbeck, TX as when she married James Lafayette “Buddy” Lenamond, she also fell in love with his family.  Their marriage did not last, but the connections with the Lenamond/Masters family always stayed close.

Her "Celebration of Life" will be held Saturday, May 29, 2021 Lake Dillon, CO to celebrate her 81^st Birthday with limited members of her family.

Sharon was born in Dallas, TX.  She graduated from Sunset High School, Dallas, TX 1959. She moved to Aurora, Colorado in 1976 and fell in love with this beautiful state.  No humidity or crazy bugs is what she always said.  

She is preceded in death by her oldest son, Desmond Jay “Desi” Lenamond; parents Clinton Milton & Helen Beatrice Head; sister Judith Kay (Head) Taylor; grandparents Vechual Allen “VA” and Nellie Josephine “Bye-Mama” Turner and John William, and Alice Marie Head.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Dena Joy (Lenamond) Way and Robert Michael “Rob” Way of Parker, CO; her youngest son and his wife, Leland Scott Lenamond and Gretchen Elene (Van Noy) Lenamond of Centennial, CO; her five grandchildren: Desmond Jay “Desi” Lenamond Jr. of Waller, TX (son of Desi Lenamond and Robbin Coto); Jordan Michelle (Way) Gleba and Anthony William “Tony” Gleba of Castle Rock, CO; Danielle Nicole “Dani” (Way) Hillyer and Robert Dane Hillyer of Steamboat Springs, CO; and Brady Scott Lenamond and Mia Elene Lenamond of Centennial, CO.

She is also survived by her sister and her husband Karen & Dan Skelton of Sioux Falls, IA and their children Bryan, Benny, Jennifer, Zachary;  brother-in-law James Franklin “Jim” Taylor and Susan “Sue” of Spring, TX; and niece Stephanie Renee “Steph” Taylor of San Francisco, CA (daughter of her sister Judy Kay and Jim Taylor.) 

Sharon loved her years owning, working, and managing multiple donut shops Southern Maid Donuts when her children were little.  Her sisters, Judy & Karen, were always there to help the customers while Sharon & Buddy were in the back making donuts.  Sharon spent a lot of her younger years with her grandparents, VA and Bye-Mama.  Bye-Mama was her favorite person on the face of the planet.  I think her proudest years were helping with her grandchildren.  She cherished the unconditional love they always gave her.  She spoiled each of them as best she could.  Jordan & Dani were the closest to her always baking cookies and playing in the mud while she tended to her garden of strawberries and her flowers.

Nana was a giving soul.  She was known to give of her time, her possessions, and her money.  If you stopped by for a visit, you were instantly offered a root beer, Dr. Pepper and some candy, either Reece’s or Werther’s.  Nana spent her life always trying to be kind and helpful.  She preferred to be by herself, but she never turned down an invite for a BBQ or family celebration.  Even if she only hung out long enough to collect a “Doggie-Bag”.  She cherished her dogs the most.  Princess, shown in the photo, a rat-terrier mix her grand-daughters Jordan & Danielle selected from a litter of puppies from Debbie Hall during a whimsical spring break vacation in Groesbeck.

A message from Jesus Calling; Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young, March 24^th devotional sums up what Sharon would want to share:

"This is a time in your life when you must learn to let go: of loved ones, of possessions, of control.  In order to let go of something that is precious to you, you need to rest in My Presence, where you are complete (Psalm 89:15).  Take time to bask in the Light of My Love.  As you relax more and more, your grasping hand gradually opens up, releasing your prized possession into My care."

"You can feel secure, even in the midst of cataclysmic changes, through awareness of My continual Presence.  The One who never leaves you is the same One who never changes: I am the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8). " For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. " (Isaiah 41:13)

 A Vision of Nana’s heaven by her daughter, Dena Way: A few hours before she physically left this earth, I saw the parade of people from her life waiting to shower her in love, grace, and kindness.  I saw the release of all the pain, hurt, negativity and brokenness some of these people might have had on my mother during her physical life here on earth.  It was powerful to sense the unconditional love and forgiveness from all these people over my mom.

In front of the parade of people, I saw all her furry friends from her past.  Princess was running ahead of everyone.  She was her dog and the love of her life for the last 15 yrs.  Following Princess was Mom’s other furry friends running as fast as they could to greet her.  Jumping on her and lavishing her with all those wonderfully wet doggie kisses.  They were barking the most excited barks, yips, and cries that she was there!

Then brilliantly, right there in front of everyone else, was my older brother, her son, Desi (3/17/62-5/3/20).  He was standing there with his arms open wide, engulfed with a glorious soft white light shimmering his body.  His smile was excessive as he patiently waited to embrace our Mother.  In the instant they embraced, I felt that all pain and hurt was completely released and only love, joy, grace, and kindness was felt.  My mom and my brother both lived very difficult, broken lives.  They loved each other so very much, but sadly in this physical world, they were not able to show each other the love and admiration they had for one another.

After the embrace, I saw them walking hand in hand, both with that magnificent glow engulfing their bodies.  When they glanced at each other, they had a beautiful spark in their eye. The kind of smile you feel from the core of your soul.  A joy you feel like the first time you hold a newborn child or see a cherished friend.  The most unconditional joy and love for everything in this world!

I knew right then that my mother was exactly where she needed to be.  I also knew in that moment that the reason of my brothers passing May 3, 2020.  He was there to greet Mom into the gates of Heaven.  He was not able to be here on earth for her.  So, he passed early to take care of her in Heaven.  He was there to be unconditional for his Mother.  In that moment, I also felt the most incredible peace for his passing as well.

In loving memory of my mom and brother.

May your legacy live on in the lives you have touched,

including the future grand-children and great grand-children yet to be.

You will protect from above and meet them when the time is right.

Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."