Sharon Ann Hassman

Sharon Ann Hassman passed away on March 14, 2026 in Forest Grove, Oregon, following a three year battle with Alzheimer’s. Sharon lived at Hawthorne House in Forest Grove where she was greatly cared for, and where the staff enjoyed her sweet demeanor, her thankfulness, and her help with other residents because she thought she was one of the teachers.

Sharon was born in Eugene, Oregon on March 11,1945, to parents Carl and Bessie Hassman. Carl worked for Southern Pacific Railroad, and Bessie was a homemaker. After a battle with cancer, tragically Carl passed away on Sharon’s fifth birthday, March 11, 1950, leaving Sharon and her older brother Ron with no father. Within a few years Bessie met Bob Johnson, and they were married May 3, 1953. Sharon embraced her new dad, and the family continued to live in Eugene. In 1955 Bob and Bessie welcomed their son Greg into the world, and then they were a family of five.

School activities and friends were a big part of Sharon’s life. She loved North Eugene High School, where she graduated in 1963. During her senior year she also served as the Queen of the Oregon Job’s Daughters. After graduation she went to McMinnville to attend Linfield College, where she met student body president John Armstrong. In 1965 John and Sharon were married, and shortly thereafter they moved to Portland where John was a high school instructor and Sharon finished her English degree from Portland State. They moved to Gresham where Sharon was a High School English teacher, and on February 18,1971 Sharon and John welcomed daughter Amy into the world.

Sharon and John divorced in 1974, and after moving back to Eugene Sharon married Wade Watts in 1975. Pursuing a Chiropractic degree, Wade was accepted at Palmer School of Chiropractic. The family of three set out for a several year adventure in Davenport, Iowa. During their years in Iowa Sharon worked at a museum and became Curator before they departed in 1982. They moved back to Eugene where Sharon became interested in financial planning and investments, and worked for several years at Merrill-Lynch. She continued to do financial planning work at several businesses in Eugene including U-Lane-O Credit Union.

Amy went to Oregon State University in 1989, and Sharon continued doing financial planning work in Eugene. She married Ken Molly and lived near the U of O for several years, and then lived in the River Road area near North Eugene. 

Sharon always loved the Oregon Coast, and in the early 1990s she bought a small, older beach cottage in Lincoln Beach. She loved the cottage, and over the years she greatly improved the home. She made many friends at the beach—as she did everywhere she lived over the years. For a number of years the cottage was heated with a wood stove, and a vintage claw-foot tub discreetly placed in heavy vegetation in her backyard served as her bathtub. In Lincoln City she worked at a quilt shop, and then for a number of years she loved working at Mossy Creek Pottery. Sharon shattered her shoulder in spring of 2016 while walking on the beach with a girlfriend. Being a "tough broad" she refused surgery, but then after little healing had a surgery in 2017. In Fall of 2017 she sold her beloved cottage and moved to Summerfield Estates in Tigard where she yet again made wonderful friends. 

Sharon was a terrific seamstress. Amy recalls countless hours standing as still as possible as her mom pinned and refined all manner of dress for her. Her skills improved over the years, but she was always good at her craft. From Gunne Sax dresses to Prom dresses and even Amy’s wedding dress she truly enjoyed every minute. She also made many quilts, and loved her quilting friends who would regularly have “quilting weekends” together at the beach in Yachats. 

Family was a huge part of Sharon’s life. She welcomed Bart VanderZanden into the family when he and Amy married, and then she was thrilled when grandsons Luke and Drew were born in 1993 and 1996. She loved occasional summer weekends at the Johnson family homestead near Madras, where she had spent some time in her junior high and high school years with family ranching friends in the Ashwood area. 

Sharon found joy in a strong cup of coffee, a good drink, sunset over the ocean, hosting a delicious dinner, or just watching eagles perch in a snag above her skylight. She is greatly missed. 

We are grieving privately, but welcome you to celebrate her memory in a way that feels right for you.