Sharon Lee Philips

Sharon Lee (Elder) Phillips was born in Kansas City, Kansas April 13, 1940, to Sam and Juanita Elder.  Sharon passed away on April 10, 2024, at the age of 83 in the Omaha, Nebraska area.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, James (Jim) Dean Phillips and her parents. Sharon is survived by her two sons, Jeffrey Dean Phillips (Lilliana) and Steven Yale Phillips (Linda), along with her younger sister, Janet Lloyd. She is also survived by her grandchildren. Jeff's children are Ashley Phillips Ramirez (Guillermo), Sydney Phillips Simeus (Nick), and Maia Phillips, along with Andrew Miano (Liliana's son). Steve's Children are Nicholas (Sarah), Julia Phillips Keller (Weston), and Jacqueline Phillips (Jonas). Sharon also is survived by her seven great granddaughters: Ada and Cleo (Nick), Sienna and Gianna (Ashley), Elle and Isla (Julia), and Sadie (Sydney). Sharon’s legacy will be embraced and cherished by all her loved ones carrying her memories and love throughout their lives.

Sharon’s family, friends, and faith was the core of her life. She was a devoted and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother with pride of her family being essential to her being, which was quite clear if you ever spent 10 minutes talking to her. Sharon’s love for her family, continuous laugh, faith, devotion, work ethic, and tenacity are characteristics she passed along to her family that will continue on in their hearts and spirit.  Her other life appreciations were her two dogs, Chloe and Regan, gardening, reading, and Sudoku related to her passion for numbers and calculations (the checkbook was always balanced to the penny!). Prior to moving to Omaha to be close to family, she spent her life in the Kansas City area graduating from Shawnee Mission (North) and attending the University of Kansas, briefly during Wilt Chamberlain’s era.

Sharon worked as a Bookkeeper, Accountant, and Controller for a few companies over the years, including Kansas City Life (where she met Jim), KC Piper (where she flew her Cross Country Solo to get her Pilot’s License, but did not license), MD Management (Controller for the largest Shopping Mall ownership in the US at the time), and KC Hospice as a volunteer until she moved to Omaha and officially retired at the age of 74. Even with this, she became the Treasurer of her Harrison Park HOA and volunteered at the Omaha Community Center to support them with their finances.

Sharon was very involved with her local church in Stanley, Kansas being an Elder, Vacation Bible Study Volunteer, and of course, the Treasurer. Both Jim and Sharon were very involved in the Kansas City Water Garden Society providing fulfillment for her gardening passion and beautification of the city. Her spiritual conviction continued when she and Jim moved to Omaha, becoming involved with Westside Community Church and their Small Groups.

Sharon passed away peacefully with her family surrounding her with love on the day she passed at Valley Lakes Assisted Living where her care and the compassion of the staff was wonderful. The staff came to truly appreciate Sharon and her friendly personality. As her disposition rapidly changed, they conveyed to her family that they knew her transition was near.

Services in celebration of Sharon’s life will be held at Roeder Funeral Home at 11710 Standing Stone Drive in Gretna, Nebraska on April 20^th from 10:00am til 11:30am with the services beginning at 10:30am. Steve and Linda will be hosting a luncheon at their home at 26835 Taylor Street in Valley, Nebraska with all friends and family welcome.

The family welcomes donations to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) at:

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 or Alzheimer’s at:

https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pxfid=874556&fr_id=1060&pg=fund