Sharon Sue Carlson (Wayman/Savage), 86, of Lenexa, Kansas passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 28th, 2024.
Sharon was born January 3, 1938, to Charles and Frances Wayman in El Dorado, Kansas. Sharon enjoyed a happy childhood with her parents and brother Glenn in El Dorado but contracted polio at the age of ten. This left her with one leg that was slightly shorter than the other, but that didn’t stop her from dancing and cheerleading in high school. She was very sociable, always surrounded by friends. When gathering constantly across the span of 60 years with those same high school friends, they referred to themselves simply as ‘The Gang’. Sharon went on to study at Butler County Community College where she was a cheerleader. While at Butler County, Sharon met another student, Donald Savage, a football player from Texas, and they were married in 1958.
Don joined the military, and Sharon lived in numerous places while he served as an officer in Army Intelligence. They lived in six different states, with a two-year stint in Germany as well. They had two children: Marcy, in 1963, and Greg in 1968. This began Sharon’s lifelong love of travel both with the moves, but also the yearly two-week long family driving vacations all over the United States. After Don’s retirement from the military, Sharon’s life took another change when in 1981, they decided to divorce. At that point Sharon moved from Santa Barbara, California to Hays, Kansas with Marcy and Greg. She then began a long and fulfilling career, working for the Hays Public Library. Sharon was an avid reader (a hobby she passed on to her children) her entire life, so her career at the library mirrored her passion for all types of books. Sharon’s greatest loves were her children and grandchildren. Almost every single vacation day was spent visiting them. Watching sporting events, reading at their schools, and sometimes even being a prop to scare the kids’ friends in their Halloween haunted houses. Her love language was thoughtful giving, and she got such joy in doing so. In 2002 Sharon retired to travel, read, and spend time with her grandchildren. Sharon always loved to sing and dance and had sung in the First United Methodist Church choir in Hays over the years. It was at that church she would discover love in her golden years to Earl Carlson. They met in a ‘Keenagers’ group at church, were married in 2011, until Earl’s death in 2020. They enjoyed playing bridge, European travel and travelling to see their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Glenn Wayman, an infant brother, Charles Ronald, and her beloved husband Earl Carlson. She is survived by her daughter Marcy Gansel (Chris) of Hill City, Kansas and son Greg Savage (Tiffany) of Lenexa; grandchildren: Emily Gansel of Austin, Texas, Megan Walker (Colton) of Kansas City, Kansas, Ethan Gansel of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Dylan Gansel of Hill City, Ben and Nick Savage of Lenexa; three great grandchildren: Jeremiah, Zella and Wesley Walker of Kansas City, Kansas; and her brother Glenn’s children: Ricky, Michelle, Rob and their families.
Her arrangements are being handled by Stinemetz Funeral Home, Hill City, Kansas with a graveside ceremony and burial Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 3.30 p.m. at Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Hill City, Kansas where Sharon will rest eternally. Donations in Sharon’s memory can be made to the Graham County Public Library or the Hays Public Library. The family wishes to thank everyone at Ascend Hospice, Brookdale Memory Care and Benton House, Lenexa for their loving care and friendship to Sharon.