WILSON-LITTLE FUNERAL HOME

PURCELL-NEWCASTLE, MCCLAIN CO, OK

(permission granted)

Norene Sharp, age 99, of Wayne, Oklahoma passed away Sunday, January 21, 2018 at her home east of Wayne. At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by her family.

She was born April 4, 1918, on a farm between Wayne and Rosedale, Oklahoma. She was the 2nd child of four children born to John Rufus Hollis and Mary Ollie (Caldwell) Hollis. In her early years, Norene attended Hopping School east of Wayne. During her teenage years, she attended Rosedale Public School and enjoyed playing her favorite sport: basketball. Even in her forties, she played exhibition basketball games with other ladies at Wayne High School. She proudly completed her GED at age 50. Norene married the love of her life, Gordon Sharp, (at age 17) on July 20, 1935 and together they raised three daughters, Rose, Nancy, and Dian. For the first two years of their marriage, they lived on the Hopping family farm; then they moved out West to find work. They lived for a short time in both California and on the coast of Oregon. They returned to Wayne in 1938 where they worked tirelessly, side-by-side, in the fields to earn enough money to achieve their goal of buying their own family farm; a goal which they achieved in 1945. For the next forty years, she and Gordon farmed peanuts, cotton, wheat, soy beans and alfalfa. When her husband suffered a stroke in 1985, Norene devoted the next nineteen years of her life to taking care of him. As much as she enjoyed farming, Norene enjoyed gardening even more. For many summers, she could be seen wearing a sunbonnet hoeing weeds in her prized vegetable garden. Norene was the matriarch and longtime member of the Wayne Baptist Church where she often went to listen to gospel music, which always uplifted her spirits. Norene worked for many years as a volunteer for the McClain County Election Board. She also worked, for a brief time, as a sales clerk for McCurdy Dry Goods Store in Wayne, a position she excelled in. She liked helping people and attending to their needs while working beside her dear friends. Norene appreciated life as a homemaker and her three favorite pastimes were; 1) cooking award winning pecan pies for friends and holiday church events; 2) listening to George Jones albums; and 3) caring for her precious grandchildren. Norene was a role model. She possessed a kind and gentle spirit, and was generous and giving….especially to her family and friends, whom she loved and cherished beyond all measure. Norene will be forever missed by all who knew her, and especially by her family who adored her.

She was preceded in death by: Her beloved husband, Gordon Sharp Parents, John and Mary Hollis; One sister, Leona Mangrum Two brothers, Johnny Ray “Pat” and Ralph Hollis.

She is survived by: Three daughters, Rose Payne and husband, Norman, of Wayne Nancy Patton and husband, Harold, of Wayne Dian Taylor and husband, Terry, of Moore; 10 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren. Also, many nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018 at Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel in Purcell.

Interment will be at the Hillside Cemetery in Purcell.