Sharon Rawls Longden

1936 - 2025

Sharon Rawls Longden
Born: June 29, 1936 in Streator, IL
Died: December 15, 2025 in Streator, IL
Sharon "Shari" Rawls Longden, 89, of East Peoria, Illinois passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025, in her hometown of Streator, Illinois. She was born on June 29, 1936, the only child of Eugene Mertz Rawls and Dolores Sheridan Rawls.
Shari is survived by daughters Laura (Gordon) Morris of Annapolis, Maryland, Amy (Jim) Devine of Alexandria, Virginia and son Geoffrey Longden of Salem, Illinois. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Zedekiah Smith of Peoria, Illinois, Megan (Wesley) Hammer of Buffalo, New York, Elizabeth Purcell (Cillian) of Gulfport, Florida, Ragon Longden of Hannibal, Missouri, four great-grandchildren, and her large Rawls and Sheridan extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, John Scott Longden.
Shari was a graduate of East Peoria Community High School, class of 1954, and attended Bradley University. Those who knew her best will remember her as a free spirit who was thoughtful and generous with her friends and family. She remembered birthdays and always arrived with a gift when visiting anyone's home. While still in high school, Shari founded a dance studio where she taught ballet and tap to aspiring young dancers. Her final position before retirement was at the Sight Center at the Tazewell County Resource Center in East Peoria. She spent most of her life in the Peoria area but also lived in New Orleans for several years. Her adventures there made for some of her best stories.
Shari loved all animals and was surrounded by many pets throughout her life. She often said she rarely sought them out; they somehow always found their way to her. She also made sure that the squirrels, racoons, wild birds and feral cats in her neighborhood were well fed. Shari took pride in decorating her home for every holiday and enjoyed gardening, reading and browsing thrift shops.
In accordance with her wishes, there will be no public service. A private interment will be at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Metamora, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the Tazewell Animal Protective Society (TAPS) in Pekin, Illinois or OSF Home Health & Hospice in Peoria, Illinois.