Sharon Kay Stewart

Sharon Kay (Westphal) Stewart of Raymond passed away at Taylorville Care Center on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Sharon was given life by her Creator on May 16, 1940, the daughter of Edgar and Marcella (Hines) Westphal in Hillsboro, Illinois. She received the gift of Holy Baptism in June 1940 becoming a child of God and publicly confessed her faith being confirmed on April 11, 1954, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Nokomis.

Sharon attended Schoal Creek School and graduated from St. Paul’s Lutheran School in 1954 and Nokomis High School in 1958. After high school, she went to work for the Signal Depot and later Staleys in Decatur. She and Dennis Stewart were married June 9, 1962, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Nokomis. Sharon later worked at Raymond Ford Dealership and Trinity Motors in Taylorville.

Sharon was very active at Trinity Lutheran Church in Harvel playing the organ for over 50 years and participating in Ladies Aid, church Outreach programs, and various other committees. She also was a member of the Connections group (previously Merry Mothers) for over 50 years. In her retirement, Sharon delivered Meals on Wheels and was a volunteer usher at Sangamon Auditorium.

Sharon loved her kids and grandkids. She enjoyed playing games with the grandkids, taking them to the park and just spending time with them. Sharon also loved to bake her famous chocolate chip cookies and share them with a variety of people.

Sharon is survived by her longtime companion Larry Honnies of Raymond; son, Scott (Elizabeth) Stewart of Friendswood, TX; daughter, Stacy (Greg) Smith of Chatham; sister, Nancy Montgomery of Taylorville; sister-in-law, Janice Kuester of Phoenix, AZ; grandsons Brady (Chloe) Smith of Edwardsville; Tate Smith of St. Louis, MO; and Jonathan and Christopher Stewart of Friendswood, TX; great grandson Baker Smith of Edwardsville; as well as several nieces and nephews that she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dennis, sister Joyce Mullins and a nephew Rodney Mullins.

Funeral services for Sharon will be held Sunday, March 2, at 3:00 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Harvel. Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery in Nokomis. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until time of service at the church. In lieu of flowers and customary remembrances, memorials are to be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church in Harvel, or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation in memory of Sharon to help fund Parkinson’s Disease research.