SHARON ENSIGN

1938 - 2014

SHARON ENSIGN Sharon Lee Ensign passed away Jan. 9, 2014, at her home in Las Vegas, surrounded by her family. She was 75. She is survived by her husband, Mike; children, Deborah, William, John and David; grandchildren, Jason, Eric, Blake, Brett, Trevor, Siena, Michael, David Jr. and George; great-grandchildren, Jeremy and Enzo; her sister, Judy Padilla; niece, Raema Helberg; great-niece, Heidi Brown; great-nephew, Sam Helberg; and great-great-niece, Hayden Brown. Sharon was born May 8, 1938, in Carson City, to Remo "Buck" Cipriani and Margaret Madden Cipriani. The family lived in Dayton, Nev., and Remo worked in the silver mines in Silver City and Virginia City. There were no birthing facilities in Dayton, so Margaret went to Carson City to deliver Sharon. The Cipriani's had three children, Sharon, Judy and Michael James. They moved to Reno as Remo got a job as a heavy equipment mechanic at Reno Army Base. When the U.S. Air Force took over this base, the Army base was moved to Herlong, Calif., and became Sierra Army Depot. The family then moved to Herlong, 50 miles north of Reno. Sharon grew up in Herlong, but since Herlong did not have a high school, students were bussed 60 miles to Susanville. After high school, Sharon worked at Sierra Army Depot as a clerk in the housing department. Sharon married and had three children, Deborah, William and John. Sharon moved with her children to Reno, and got a job carrying change at Harrah's Club. After several months she went to school and became a blackjack dealer. While working at Harrah's, she met and married Mike Ensign. They got married in Carson City in 1967. Mike brought a son, David to the marriage. Mike adopted Sharon's children. Mike got a job at the Sahara Tahoe Casino, Sharon transferred to Harrah's Lake Tahoe, and the family moved to Lake Tahoe. In 1974, Mike got an executive position with Circus Circus and the family moved to Las Vegas, where they have resided ever since. Over the years, besides being a terrific wife and mother, she helped Mike when they bought in to the Gold Strike Casino at Hoover Dam. She did everything from supervising the casino games to cleaning restrooms. In the mid-1980's, she worked at the front desk when her son, John, opened his veterinary clinic, West Flamingo Animal Hospital. Sharon has always been very involved with the Catholic church, attending St. Andrews Church in Boulder City, and then Christ the King in Las Vegas. She was a Eucharistic Minister and had regular homebound parishioners that she visited. For years, she served on the Liturgy Committee at Christ the King and hosted small group Bible studies in her home. Sharon had a deep and abiding faith in God. In addition to her church service, Sharon was a member of Assistance League and worked at School Bell outfitting needy children. She served on several committees there over the years. She was also a member of Nevada Women's Philanthropy serving on committees with that organization as well. Sharon was outgoing and social. She was a loyal friend and her friends adored her. She was loved to travel, golf and quilt. To say that she will be greatly missed is an understatement. Heaven just got one great gal! Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4925 S. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas.