Sharon E. Adgate

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints.

If a precious life could be summed up by a number, Sharon Edith Adgate’s would be 79. It’s the number of years she spent on Earth, spanning two centuries of time and numerous historical events. And numbers cannot lie; they are finite, orderly, and this number represents so much more than mere years. It tells a story of a life, folded between a birth date and a death date; of falling in love and exploring the world, experiencing the joys of children. Working hard to create a fulfilling career, of easy Saturdays relaxing at home and Sundays tucked inside a church pew. Numerous cups of coffee, an untold number of thunderstorms. The scent of chalk and the remnants of dry erase markers left behind in the creases of her hand. Conversations, too many to recall, but the feelings of community and connection lingering long after the words have been forgotten. Memories of ordinary days, filled with moments that add up to 79 years, cherished and blessed by Christ.

Proverbs 10:7a The memory of the righteous is a blessing…

And Sharon’s life was one of plenty. Born January 28th, 1945 to Daniel Sheldon and Wilma “Ruth” (DeYoung) Walker, she worked hard and graduated from Lowell High School in Lowell, Michigan with the class of 1963. She then continued on in her calling of helping others, graduating from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo where she earned a teaching degree and taught students at Kellogg Elementary School in the Gull Lake School District beginning in 1968. She spent many of her 79 years tending to hundreds of students, giving them hope and encouragement, hugs and a safe place to be.

She married her soul mate, Kim LaVerne Adgate, on November 27, 1982. Their union brought them to Florida, where sunny skies and soaring heat welcomed them. Two sons and a daughter quickly followed, and Sharon’s days were filled with her own children’s laughter and delight for a time. Unable to resist her calling, she returned to teaching and blessed Florida students in the Lake County School District until her retirement in 2011. They made a home in Alabama after her retirement, still caring for others and sharing the word of God.

Sharon’s earthly life concluded June 28, 2024, at her home in Harvest, Alabama. Leaving her surrounding family, she was escorted to heaven by protecting angels and her guardian angels, from the Captain of the angel armies, her Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:8 … prefer to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Surviving are her husband and her children, Levi Kimball (Amanda Marie) Adgate, Erin Elizabeth, and Seth Benjamin (Lori Beth) Adgate and Sharon’s sister-in-law Betty Lou Walker. She also leaves her grandchildren: Legend Benjamin, 13 yrs.; Cash Lincoln, 12 yrs.; Hadley Quinn, 11yrs.; London Monroe, 10yrs.; Parker Grace, 10 yrs.; Lennox Waverly, 8 yrs.; Gretta Delicia Irisura, 5 yrs., after an international adoption from Burundi, Africa; Marlowe Marie, 5 yrs., nieces Ann (Becker) Dietz, Wendy (Becker) Anderson, and Terry (Walker) Dell, a nephew Daniel Gary Walker, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, sister Phyllis Ruth and and brother-in-law Richard Lawrence Becker, and her brother Daniel Clayton Walker.

A celebration of life service is planned for Saturday, August 3, 2024 at Movement Church in Madison, Alabama at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions continue to be made to the non-profit Good People Global, in honor of Sharon‘s heart and generosity to surrounding needs.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.