Sharon Lou Rider

FUNERAL HOME

Romero Funeral Home

609 N Main St

Belen, New Mexico

Sharon Rider Obituary

SHARON LOU RIDER Sharon Lou Rider (78), of Belen, New Mexico, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2025, surrounded by family and loved ones. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend whose kindness, faith, and love for life touched everyone who knew her. Born in La Junta, Colorado, on May 5, 1947, to Lula Lee Huddleston and Jackie Floren Matthew. Sharon grew up with a strong sense of family and faith that guided her throughout her life. In 1973, she married the love of her life, John David Rider, and together they began their journey in California. Sharon spent most of her life in La Mesa, California, before later retiring with her husband to Cloudcroft, New Mexico, and eventually settling in Belen, where she enjoyed her later years close to her brother John and his wife Jan. A woman of many passions, Sharon had a special love for raising and showing her basset hounds. Her dedication and enthusiasm for the hobby brought her great fulfillment and recognition, earning multiple championships in confirmation, tracking, and agility competitions. Sharon's deep and abiding faith was the foundation of her life. While living in California, she was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Lemon Grove. After moving to New Mexico, she continued her faith journey with the Summit Christian Fellowship congregation in Cloudcroft. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband, Commander John David Rider, USN (Retired). She is survived by her loving children: William Patrick Callahan (Desiree), Yvonne Renee Rider, Shannon Carol Shoop, and James David Rider (Trudy); her dear brothers, John William Nesslage (Jan) and Ronald Lynn Nesslage; and her sisters, Michelle Mayre Holcomb (Mark) and Renee Lee Wolf (Fred). Sharon was the proud grandmother of six grandchildren and great-grandmother to three great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, all of whom cherished her warmth and gentle spirit. Sharon will be remembered for her loving heart, steadfast faith, and the joy she brought to everyone fortunate enough to know her. She will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband at Fort Stanton State Veterans Cemetery in New Mexico at a later date. Please sign Sharon's online tribute atÂ www.romerofuneralhomenm.comÂ Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM.

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Published by LA Junta Tribune from Nov. 17 to Nov. 20, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Sharon Rider

Sponsored by Romero Funeral Home.

2 Entries

Bev Kochevar

November 20, 2025

Sharon was one of my friends. We grew up in Fowler and graduated from Fowler High School. She will be missed.
Bev (Smith) Kochevar

Shannon shoop

November 20, 2025

Moms, you became my best friend over this last year. Thank you for being there for all of us kids. This last year
Summing it up won't be short- but I left my home, my life to take care of you and be there with you- because you wanted to stay home in your house. It wasn't even a second thought after we talked about my moving down here with you. Well, I did have the apartment that I spent a total of 7 days in through this last year. It was all worth it though, Moms. All the good times and when we were really left alone how you and I got a lot closer, the funny stuff we did- well I did that made you laugh. How you became my best friend in the last few months especially because all we had was each other to depend on, truly.
Tucking you in like a cocoon, how you could lift her legs and cover up but wanted to be tucked in every night and that's when we'd talk about our lives then after being tucked in you would call several more times just to be tucked in again, how funny I found it that you could put your robe on every morning but the rest of the day you'd walk out with it on your walker to have me put it on for you. Doing your hair for you, laughing, helping you get dressed- how you loved the homemade cookies and chocolate- every time we went to sprouts the look in your eyes when we passed by the chocolate isle- and with that smile you just loaded up on what ever looked good. Moms- I felt like the lucky one because I got to be there with you this last year - the last time you wanted to drive- how it scared me a little and the day you learned to drive the Walmart carts and would zoom around and then made the comment how you could run anyone over if they annoyed you enough with a gleam in your eyes and a smile on your face.
I will never forget when you held my hand a lot when you were feeling weak and how stubborn you were about going to doctors and finally giving in to the need to go after I convinced you, we could go to sprouts every time we had another doctors appointment to go too.
Moms, I wish I could say all of this to you in person, I just want to thank you now, for sharing your memories with me during our bedtime talks. I want to thank you for being there when I didn't know I needed you as a mother- now a friend- a best friend and a mother up to the end. I love you and I sure miss you so much. Say hello to Dad for us, I am sure he's learned how to dance by now.

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