Obituary of Sharon Harriet West

Sharon Harriet West passed away with her daughters by her side in West St Paul, MN August 3, 2023, after a long fight with dementia.

Sharon was born in 1941 in Coffeeville, KS to parents Harry and Lois Hopkins. She graduated from Jefferson City High School in Jefferson City, MO. Subsequently, she worked in the travel and hospitably industry as a flight attendant and reservationist for the airlines and later as a hotel banquet server. 

Sharon followed her high school sweetheart, Melvin G. West, in 1961, at a time when biracial marriage was illegal in MO, which moved them to MN. She was a trailblazer at a tough time, cut off from most of her family, they raised two daughters, Melody and Melisha in Minneapolis.

In retirement Sharon enjoyed traveling, hiking with her grand dog and spending time with her grandchildren. She was also a loyal companion at her daughter’s horse barn, watching competitions and feeding apples. She found pleasure in reading, and westerns by Louis Lamour were her favorite. She shared her love of reading with her grandsons and enjoyed spending as much time as she could with them. Sharon loved to drive down the unknown road to see where it led and weekly walks at Lebanon Hills in Eagan. She spent time at their trailer at Pathfinder Village in Hinckley, MN enjoying nature. She loved to feed the wildlife, birds, deer, skunk, racoon, and the occasional bear. She had a generous spirit for all, she would give you a shirt out of her closet, even if you didn’t need it, want it or like it.

In March of 2017, Sharon was diagnosed with dementia. Her disease progressed over the following 5 years, as she kept her humor, her dignity and fighting spirit through it all. She was cared for lovingly by the staff in the Haven memory care unit at the Sanctuary of West St. Paul and visited daily by her family.

Sharon was preceded in death by her husband, and brother Dale Hopkins of AK. She is survived by her daughters Melody and Melisha West; grandson’s Miles and Mason Scroggins; and granddog Ziggy. She is also survived by her siblings Wayne Hopkins of CA and Joyce Symmonds of MO; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

No funeral services will be held at Sharon’s wishes, but her ashes will be spread with those of her husbands during the future travels of her daughters so that they will experience the world together.