Sharon Lee (Ford) Carty

Sharon Lee Carty, age 91, of Findlay, Ohio, passed away at 6 a.m. Friday, August 30, 2019. She was born on November 11, 1927 in Sullivan, IN to Arnold and Ozzie Ford. Sharon met the love of her life, Gene Carty, at age 15 and married him November 6, 1949.

She is survived by son Kevin (LisaCanter) and granddaughter Hunter of Columbus, OH, daughters Kim of Findlay, OH and Clair (Sherry Pethers) of Laona, WI, and sister Jo Ann Trice of Memphis, TN. Preceding her in death were her husband, daughter Kathy, her parents, brother Russell Burks and sister Judy Keene. After losing her daughter, Sharon began working at Marathon, which she claims saved her life. She worked there many years until retirement. She and her family were members of Saint Andrews Methodist Church, where she and her husband taught Sunday school, worked with the youth groups and served meals at the community dinners. In retirement they volunteered at Blanchard Valley hospital and Sharon donated her time working at the Nearly New resale shop.

Sharon and Gene had many lifelong friends from their school days in Indiana and made many more when they moved to Findlay. They were avid and excellent bridge players, but both of them enjoyed games of all kinds. Playing games was the major activity for the whole Carty family, and the way Gene and Sharon spent most evenings with friends. They branched out into many other activities, including a square dance phase (with outfits). In retirement they enjoyed vacation tours to many of the national parks, a cruise and two trips to Europe.

One of Sharon‘s great joys was shopping—and coming home with a bargain, of course, she could never resist sharing what a good deal she got. She loved visiting her daughter Clair in New York City and Chicago, enjoying Broadway theater, Marshall Fields and just walking through the city. Sharon was a lifelong democrat, and she and Gene spent many years working the polls on election day.

After losing her husband, Sharon eventually moved to Primrose retirement community and led an active life of exercise classes, yoga, art classes and social hour. In the past year, illness began slowing her down, but daily activities still included reading the Courier, doing the crossword puzzle and watching Jeopardy. Visitation is Thursday, September 5 from 3:00-6:00pm at COLDREN-CRATES FUNERAL HOME, Findlay, Ohio.

Visitation in Sullivan will be Saturday, September 7, from 11:00am-1:00pm at First Methodist Church. A graveside service will follow at 1:00pm with Rev. Lance Newton officiating. Holmes Memorial Chapel assisted with local arrangements.

Interment will be at the family plot in Center Ridge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kathy Carty Memorial Scholarship of The Community Foundation, 101 West Sandusky St., #207, Findlay, OH 45840.