Sharon Monett

Sharon Monett

Knoxville, TN

Sharon Lynn (Burke) Monett, age 55, entered into the glory of her Lord on August 4, 2016, surrounded by family and friends after a brief struggle with melanoma. She was a member of Meridian Baptist Church of Knoxville. Anyone who knew Sharon would agree with Sean's words, "I lost my all-time greatest influence, supporter, inspiration, encourager, role model, helper, fan, teacher, and best friend. My mom will be remembered by those who knew her as a unique person who brought joy to all the things she did. She is the reason I am anyone worth being today. A single mother, an artist, a sharp and principled mind, and possessor of many other amazing attributes, she will be missed. And missed. And missed. Her sense of humor, her tenacity, her fierce and unyielding love for her family, and especially her buoyant, unshaken faith, are, without a doubt, characteristics of the best kind of person. So, we lost another one tonight."

She will be remembered as an avid learner and devoted member of many communities, including volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America and proud Eagle Scout mom; award-winning photographer and frequent contributor to KNS Reader's Eye; devoted church choir member, VBS teacher, and women's ministry leader at Meridian; and a committed employee of the marketing team at Knoxville Area Transit for 10+ years. And then there was Vol Football. Sharon was as unwavering and devoted a VFL as ever existed. Some might have called her an avid fan, some might have gone as far as to call her rabid. Sharon was a UTK graduate and became an enthusiastic fan of Coach Butch Jones's "brick by brick" approach. Two of her proudest possessions were signed photographs that she received from the coach during her illness.

She is survived by mother, Gwen Burke; sons, Russell James Monett and Sean Monett; brothers, Rusty (Shelly), Michael, Kelly (Mary Ann); and sister, Kathy. Sharon leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly and who loved her. She also leaves behind beloved friends at Meridian Baptist, many of whom were like sisters and brothers to her.

Funeral services will be from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 7, 2016, at Meridian Baptist Church, with Rev. Dana Fachman officiating. Receiving of friends will start at 1:00 p.m., and the service begins at 3:00 p.m. Sharon wanted to encourage everyone to wear something orange to her service (Vol orange, of course). In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Meridian Women's Ministries, 6513 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville TN, 37920, or to the LIVE5 Foundation (UTMC cancer support and research), www.livefivefoundation.org/donation.