Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Our beautiful Mom and Grandma, Mary Helen Sartain Sharp, age 85, left this earth on Sunday, Oct. 8th, 2017, at the loving home of her daughter, Linda, and Mark Luckey in Prineville, Ore., where she had lived for the past five years. She was a resident of The Dalles before moving to Prineville. She was born Feb. 1, 1932, in Pelham, Tenn., at home to the late Edison Martin Sartain and Lida Mae Fults Sartain, the second of 10 children.
She was preceded in death by sisters, Marlee Meeks and Pearley M. Nunley; brothers, Louis Martin, Thomas Carl and Dewey Dee Sartain; and daughter, Deborah Kay Tackett Luster.
Mom enjoyed cooking, especially holidays, for family and friends. There was always a seat at the table for all. Everybody was made to feel welcomed in her home with unconditional love. She loved her little solar dancers, doing her puzzle books daily, and watching The Golden Girls, Family Feud, and The Voice.
Her eyes lit up, cheeks glowed and a wonderful smile filled her face every time she shared stories of her family and fond childhood memories of growing up in Pelham Valley.
Mom shared the beauty of the valley, running barefoot and free in the fields around her childhood home. She loved swimming in the Elk River on hot days, building houses for, and talking to, doodle bugs. She especially loved spending time with her dad’s sisters. Even talking about cleaning clothes on the rub board and fetching water from the well brought a smile to her face.
She is survived by friends and family she loved, cherished and held dear in her heart: daughters, Tish and Linda; sons, Mike, Lee, Eddie, Jim, Ritchie and Charlie; sisters, Melba Smithery and Annie Garner; and brothers, Willard (Yvonne) and William, all of Manchester, Tenn.. She had four great-great-grandsons and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren who loved and cherished her, plus many nieces and nephews.
Mom would want you to love and cherish your children, family and friends. Also, to be kind and generous to those less fortunate.
A Celebration of Her Life was Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017 at Campground Faith Free Will Baptist Church in Pelham, Tenn., following her burial at Bethel Cemetery in Pelham, Tenn., at 10 a.m.
To plant a tree in memory of Mary Sartain as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
