Obituaries

Sharon Jean Forrest, age 83, died on April 10, 2024, at Ball Hospice House in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, surrounded by her dedicated children. A Brimley resident, she was born on October 18, 1940, in Sault Ste. Marie, to her loving parents, Harold and Annie (Greer) Lawson.

Sharon was raised in Sault Ste. Marie and graduated from Sault High School in 1958 before attending beauty school. After earning her license, she went on to cut and style hair until meeting her husband, Don. They married on January 13, 1962, and started a family in the Sault before moving to Flint, Michigan, where Don would work in the automotive industry. While Don worked hard in manufacturing, Sharon diligently cared for their four children – Michele, Carla, Renea, and Corey while serving her Flint community through volunteerism at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and many other organizations.

After the children had grown, Sharon and Don retired and moved back to Brimley. The hard-working couple lived in a camper while building their dream home from the ground up. Retirement provided more time for Sharon to serve the Lord by using her gifts of hospitality, service, organization, and administration. Sharon became an invaluable member of her community by constantly loving and serving others. Sharon will always be remembered as a true servant of her Lord and Savior. A dedicated member at St. Francis Brimley parish, she served many roles, volunteered at Hospice of the Eastern Upper Peninsula, Brimley Historical Society, Bayliss Public Library, Friends of Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery and, of course, championed the St. Francis pastie sales.

When she wasn’t organizing activities for the community, Sharon could be found working in her garden, attending plays at the local theatre, and grabbing lunch with her many friends. With children in Detroit and Tennessee, Sharon saw lots of new sights in her retirement, including a memorable trip to Alaska, hanging out with family in South Carolina, and relaxing on Florida beaches. Travelling to visit her grandchildren (Anna & Forrest) in South Carolina, then Tennessee was always a highlight.

Sharon is survived by her daughters, Michele Forrest of Metro Detroit, Michigan, Carla (Coty) McFarland of Tennessee, Renea Forrest of Metro Detroit, Michigan; son, Corey Forrest of Metro Detroit; brother, Ronald Lawson; brother-in-law, Gary (Pat) Forrest; sisters-in-law, Sandra Lawson, Marcia Lawson, Mary Dickinson, Nancy (Phil) Parks, and Irene Forrest; grandchildren, Anna (Grayson) Bridges and Forrest McFarland and many nieces and nephews.

Sharon is preceded in death by husband, Donald Forrest; parents, Harold and Annie Lawson, Lyle and Dorothy Forrest; brothers, Vernon Lawson and John Lawson; sister, Betty (Ray) Aldrich; sister-in-law, Bonita Lawson; brother-in-law, Robert Dickinson.

Visitation will be at 11:00 AM at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 6769 South Bay Street, Brimley, Michigan 49715. The Rosary will be at 11:30 AM, Funeral Mass at 12:00 PM, with luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and/or Hospice of the EUP, 308 W. 12th Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783.

Final resting place will be at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens in Bruce Township, Michigan.