Sharon Marie LaRue

Sharon (Shannie) Marie Thompson LaRue of Grants Pass, OR, went home to be with the Lord on November 27, 2025. She was born on March 17, 1950 in Everett, WA. Her parents, Gerald and Alma Thompson raised Shannie, her two sisters and one brother in Washington State, mainly on Whidbey and Camano Islands. In 1967, she moved with her family to Cloverdale, CA where she graduated from Cloverdale High School in 1968. She then attended Santa Rosa Junior College with an emphasis on Bookkeeping and Accounting.

Three years after graduation she met her husband of 54 years, Bruce LaRue. Bruce was in the Navy and they moved to NAS Lemoore, Lemoore, CA. They had 2 daughters Lisa Ann and Carrie Lynn while living on the Navy base. In 1978, they bought their first home in Armona, CA, a small community near the base. Shannie was a stay at home Mom most of the time and worked part-time doing bookkeeping jobs. As the girls grew up, Shannie was active in their schools and enjoyed working as a seamstress making costumes for the many plays and musicals that the girls were involved in.

Shannie navigated life as a Navy wife with strength, grit, and grace. She was a volunteer Navy Family Ombudsman for 2 of the commands that Bruce was in, helping Navy wives deal with the hardships of life while the husbands were on cruise. She was also involved in church activities and in their family life group.

After Bruce retired from the Navy, Shannie took a full-time job working as an office manager while Bruce went to college. It was crazy for a while having 2 daughters and a husband all in college at the same time. Shannie kept that job for 7 years until she and Bruce decided to move to Grants Pass, Oregon in 2001. Shannie thought that she was retired now, but got a bit bored staying at home so she got a job working for Dennis Doyle, CPA. She enjoyed working with the team and doing Payrolls and Income Taxes for 12 years until she retired in 2015.

Shannie was a member of Parkway Christian Center and was active in Traditions, Women’s Ministry, life groups, a quilting group and many other activities. Shannie, along with Bruce, were instrumental in starting the Celebrate Recovery group in Grants Pass. She was an active group leader and TEAM member for over 12 years as she continued to be involved with CR.

Shannie volunteered out in the community too. She was on the Faith House Board of Directors for 8 years and helped with Royal Family Kids Camp for several years.

She was a devoted Grandmother to her 6 grandchildren: Audrey Portela of New York City, Joseph Portela of Fresno, CA, and Sydney Feitl, Emily Kennedy-Feitl, Ashlyn Feitl, and Faith Kennedy of Louisville, KY.

Her hobbies were reading, sewing and doing craft projects. Home sewn Christmas gifts, homemade food and playing games together represent a few ways she blessed her family with her time and talents.

Shannie was preceded in death by her parents Gerald and Alma Thompson, and her brother, Gary Thompson.

Shannie is survived by her loving husband, Bruce, of 54 years, her daughter Lisa and husband Steve Portela of Fresno, CA, her daughter Carrie and husband Scott of Louisville, KY, her 6 grandchildren, her sister Linda and husband Norman Ross of Spanaway, WA, her sister Laurie and husband Rick Gurries of Hopland, CA, and several nieces and nephews -all who will forever cherish her memory.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith House in Grants Pass, OR.