Sharon Daugherty Valleau

August 11, 1957 - September 10, 2024

Kansas City, Missouri - It was a Sunday, the weather was warm, and the evenings were brighter than usual when Sharon entered this world!

Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Sharon was the third child of Bennie and Catherine Daugherty. She was a graduate of St. Teresa's Academy and the University of Missouri, Kansas City, graduating with honors. Sharon was also a member of Phi Beta Delta Honor Society.

Sharon was a woman of great intelligence, talent, creativity, strength and faith. She lived her life with great passion. Passion for people, (especially her family and friends), animals, her environment locally as well as globally, the arts, education, politics and food! She was a proud Leo and exemplified in so many areas of her life the attributes of the Lion!

From an early age it was obvious Sharon was talented and was not shy in expressing it. She was active during her elementary and high school years in theater. She had an impressive vocal range that was honed during her teen years at the Missouri Conservatory of Music and during summer vacations she performed at the Karns Academy and Worlds of Fun.

As an adult, she continued pursuing her creative goals and began her professional career working for Philip Morris Tobacco Company as a Process Analyst and Account Manager before landing a position as a Senior Writer with Hallmark Cards - one of their first African American writers. During her years at Hallmark, Sharon wrote original greeting cards, created ad copy, and was instrumental in creating new products and programs for heightened marketability. Her involvement with Hallmark led to a liaison with Dr. Maya Angelou where she served as the Team Lead in developing retail offerings of writings and inspirational gifts featuring the voice of Dr. Angelou. This was a career highlight for Sharon!

Following Hallmark, Sharon worked as a Diversity Facilitator for numerous organizations within the city and developed and facilitated diversity dialogue programs for Hallmark Cards and the Diocese of Kansas City/St. Joseph. She also worked as the Marketing Director for the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors. Music remained a passion, and she would occasionally take the mic at a few local clubs.

Once retired, Sharon continued receiving writing contracts for grants, business proposals, news print and broadcast, and speech writing. She wrote and co-produced a documentary film short: "Where Do We Live" A History and Analysis of Housing Patterns in Kansas City. Sharon was a contributing journalist for the Jazz Ambassador Magazine and The Kansas City Call. Sharon also wrote script adaptations from children's novels to full length plays for professional production at the Rainbow's End Theatre.

Raised as a devout Catholic, Sharon was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, Church of the Risen Christ and St. Regis. Like her parents, Sharon believed in service to the Church and community and volunteered with several organizations and worked for a short period for Seton Center.

Sharon was a fierce fighter and fought an incredible battle against cancer. She was initially diagnosed in 2002 and charted her own path medically, which we believe enabled her to survive the disease much longer than expected.

Sharon is preceded in death by her former husband Warren Valleau, her parents, Catherine and Bennie Daugherty, and siblings James L. Bartlett and Cathy E. Jones. She is survived by her daughter, Christina Daugherty Peoples (Richard) of Tx., grandson, Mason Daugherty, brother, Bruce Daugherty (Diane) of Fl., sister, Tina Glover (Nate) of Ca., and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, friends and colleagues.

Funeral services for Sharon will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at St. James Catholic Church, Liberty, Missouri, 10:00 a.m.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Kansas City Star from Sep. 18 to Sep. 22, 2024.