Sharon Marie Handley

Sharon Marie Handley 1946 ~ 2016 Sharon Marie Handley passed away peacefully on the morning of Saturday, August 6, 2016 at St. Alphonsus Hospital. Sharon was born on May 18, 1946, in Kearney, Nebraska, to Vincent and Rosa Soderquist and was the first of four children. At age 19, she married Michael Handley, a newly enlisted sailor in the Navy, and moved from their home in Denver, Colorado, where they had met, to the naval base in Memphis, Tennessee. Their first child, David Michael Handley, was born in Memphis. The couple moved back to Denver, closer to family and friends. There, they had their daughter, Kristine Diane Handley, and resided there with Mike working for Mountain Bell. In 1976, Mike was transferred to Boise, Idaho, where he and Sharon moved and made their permanent home. Sharon strongly believed in her Catholic faith and wanted to raise her children in the Catholic school system. She sought out parishes in Boise and found herself a home at St. Marks, then only 6 grades. With the amazing group of friends that Sharon and Mike acquired and the families that they surrounded themselves with, they quickly changed the landscape and direction of the school. Sharon started the first school library and was the librarian. With friends, she created the Ladies of St. Mark's bowling league, the Booster club, and the original school lunch program. She acted as the president of the Ladies of St. Marks for several years and was part of the push to add 7th and 8th grades as her son grew to that age. When her children were finishing at St. Marks, Sharon stayed involved in their education by becoming the bookkeeper at Bishop Kelly High School (BK). Sharon held the position long enough to work side-by-side with her daughter when Kristi began teaching at BK. Sharon utilized her craft and sewing expertise to create countless items for sale at BK benefit auctions and for the Festival of Trees. It was common to see Sharon in the office at BK during the day, then taking money at the gym door or football field at night while her husband Mike ran the game clock after she hosted a BK pasta feed at her house for the entire football or basketball team. Sharon was never without a sewing kit or knitting needles by her side while she collected the game money, as sewing and quilting were her passion, besides her kids' sports and activities. The thousands of items she made, from wooden clothes pin figures to Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, were all unique and personalized. She always had a craft booth during the Christmas season at different venues throughout Boise. After her children graduated from BK, Sharon remained, moving into the position of business manager, and increased her involvement at St. Marks parish. She was a member of the CCW (Council of Catholic Women) and the St. Mark's Comfort Quilters. She was an ExtraOrdinary Minister, a CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) youth minister, and a money counter. Sharon took care of altar linens and made baptismal garments and linens for Eucharistic processions. Mike was a part of the Knights of Columbus and ushered, while Sharon was a lector and reader at the Saturday evening mass on a weekly basis, and she volunteered at St. Mark's school again when her grandchildren started attending. When her daughter became a police officer, Sharon volunteered at the Boise Police Department, with a special fondness for the K-9 unit and its officers. Sharon was preceded in death by both of her parents, Vince and Rosa; her husband, Mike, and her son, Dave. She is survived by her sister, Marilynn (Curt) Eckhardt, and brothers Charles (Diane) Soderquist, and Gary (Janet) Soderquist; daughter, Kristi Handley (Mary Grant) and her grandchildren Kenzie, Jacob, Katie, Jaxson and Damon as well as her beloved friends, who created an extended family too large to name. The family would like to thank the staff at St. Alphonsus Hospital for their care and assistance during Sharon's passing; their kindness and compassion were appreciated during this difficult time. A vigil service will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2016, and a funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 am, Wednesday, August 17, 2016, both at St. Mark's Church in Boise. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to either St. Mark's Catholic School or Bishop Kelly High School in Sharon's name.