Sharon Stowers

Sharon Stowers, 81, of Centralia passed away Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the Stuart House in Centralia.

Family and Friends are invited to Sharon's Life Celebration at 7:00 PM Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Fenton-Kendrick Funeral Home in Centralia. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until the time of the service.

Sharon was born November 27, 1943, and raised in Collinsville, Illinois. She was a 1961 graduate of Collinsville High School and attended the University of Missouri on a ROTC scholarship. Sharon earned her nursing degree from the University of Missouri School of Nursing in 1965 becoming the first nursing school graduate to be commissioned by the United States Navy. While at the university, she met Gale on a blind date. One of her friends was supposed to go out with him, but she had a conflict and asked Sharon if she would go instead. He showed up in his blue, white soft top Thunderbird, and swept her off her feet. They were married in August 1965 and moved to Encinitas, California, where she honorably served her country at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital.

Gale and Sharon returned to Missouri in 1969 and made their home on the family farm north of Centralia, later building their lifetime home on their 80 acres just off Highway CC. Sharon started her nursing career at Audrain Medical Center in 1969 and retired from there in 2010 after serving in various positions including her final position as Infection Control and Quality Assurance Coordinator. She worked hand in hand with Gale on the farm, row-cropping, baling hay, and raising cattle, hogs and horses, operating their trucking and construction company, and raising their three children. Following retirement, Sharon served on the Audrain County Public Health Board and substituted in the Centralia schools. She, along with Gale, were active members of Parkview Christian Church for over 30 years. Until the last couple of years, Sharon was always on the go in her Dodge pickup keeping the blacktops hot and making the occasional I-70 trips to the "big, bad city" better known as St. Louis. Her family encouraged her to get something smaller, but she always wanted to be bigger than the person who might hit her!

Sharon loved the Lord, horses, farm life, being at home, their cruise to Alaska, road trips to Texas, their train ride to Colorado, and everything family…boating and camping at Mark Twain Lake, ski trips to Colorado, holiday dinners, watching her grandchildren play sports and show horses and cattle and excel in the classroom.

Sharon is survived by her children, Terrah Stallcup (Scott) of St. Louis, Denise Holiman (Kurt) of Centralia, and Greg Stowers (Kara) of Centralia; grandchildren, Madyson and John Stallcup, Jared, Ella, and Rohan Holiman, and Breelle, Garon, Gavin, and Brycelyn Stowers, sister-in-law, Beverly Westlake of Denton, TX, brother-in-law, Gary Stowers of Centralia, and nieces and nephews, Robert Westlake, Leslie Webbe, Scott Westlake, Tracy Frank, and Gara Stowers.

Gale preceded Sharon in death on February 15, 2019. She was also preceded in death by her parents, William "Bill" Westlake and Eleanor (Somerhalder) Westlake Bennett, and brother, Bob Westlake, her father and mother-in law, Charles and Evelyn Stowers.

Memorial donations are suggested to Show-Me Christian Youth Home, Central Christian College of the Bible and Parkview Christian Church and may be sent in care of Fenton-Kendrick Funeral Home, 104 S. Collier St. Centralia, MO 65240.