Stephen Ray Sharp, beloved father, devoted husband and loyal friend passed away at NorthCare Hospice House on July 31, 2019. He was born on August 21, 1944, and spent much of his boyhood in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.
On September 10, 1965, Steve married the love of his life, Diane Thomas, and the couple enjoyed 53 years of marriage. They were blessed with a daughter, Pam, and two sons, Bruce and Daniel, as well as nine grandchildren.
Steve graduated from the University of Central Missouri, the first in his family to graduate from college, and had a distinguished 31-year career as an educator and coach for the Rockwood School District, in Eureka, Missouri. His passion for teaching earned him many accolades, and his positive impact on thousands of students continues to resonate beyond his life. A tireless worker, Steve earned a second college degree in education from Maryville University, and after retiring from the classroom, began a 15-year career as an IRS supervisor.
Steve, a lifelong outdoorsman, was most at home on the lake, in a deer stand, or walking the land of his beloved Pattensburg, Missouri farm. He was a good man who loved God, his wife and his family, and he was taken from them too soon. For those privileged to know him he has left an incredible mark.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 4, 2019 at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home in Excelsior Springs, MO.
Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 5, 2019 at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home followed by burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kearney, MO.
Our Sincere Condolences
Dad – I won’t say goodbye, I will only say see you again. You taught so many but unknowingly I was the most attentive student you had. Hanging on your every word and excited to spend every second I could soaking your knowledge in. I will miss you as my father, but I will miss you most as my buddy. I love you dad. See you on the other side.
Dan Sharp
I worked with Steve for many years at the IRS. He was always knowledgeable and had great stories to share. He was very memorable and led an amazing life. My sincere condolences to his loved ones. May you find comfort in your many memories.
Martha “Marti” A Schuller
May God embrace you with his Grace and Strength during this difficult time.
Tina Fowler
Coach Sharp was a wonderful teacher and coach. He loved to teach and we loved to learn from him. A class act and one of my favorite teachers. My sincere condolences and prayers to his family, Anita Class of 1976 Eureka High School
Mr. Sharp was one of my favorite teachers at Eureka. May God’s loving hands comfort you at this time and in the days ahead.
Lori Higgins
I was fortunate to have Mr. Sharp for a teacher. He influenced my love for the outdoors, specifically orienteering. Like all good teachers, he made a difference. Sending prayers.
Angela Carnahan Matousek
My sincere sympathy to Mr. Sharp’s family. He was such a great teacher during my junior high school years in Eureka.
Marjorie Haas Neubert
Mr. Sharp was one of my absolute favorite high school teachers! He had a HUGE impact on the lives of so many high school students! May he Rest In Peace!
Jeffrey Gates
My sincerest condolences to the family. I grew up next door to Coach David and down the street from you on Wallach. I also babysat all of you. What a wonderful family! May you all find peace with all the wonderful memories. 😢
Anita Clifton
Mr. Sharp was that extraordinary teacher and coach that impacted so many of us during our time at Eureka Jr. High. It was because of his dedication (and that of Coach Jim Carey) that our AAU track program got off to such a strong start. His humor, energetic spirit and guidance will always be remembered fondly. Sending each of his family members and friends my most sincere condolences during this time of great sorrow.
Kim Cerny
Loved Mr. Sharp. He was my history and orienteering teacher/coach. I got super into this fro 7-9 grades, all because of him. RIP Mr Sharp.
Chris Weatherby
Best teacher ever!! Only class I was ever excited to go to!!
Linsay Hunt
Deepest condolences to Diane and the rest of the family. He was a great guy and he was always someone I looked up to.
Larry Hammerschmidt
Mr. Sharp was a great teacher and made an impression on many people.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Julie Austin Todd
Mr. Sharp was one of the best teachers I ever had and left a lasting impression on me through my life. He will be missed by many.
Carey Watkins (Bennett)
Mr. Sharp was one of the best teachers I had, while attending Eureka schools. Because of him, I took up orienteering. He took an interest in the lives of his students and was a positive influence and inspiration. Prayers and condolences for his family.
Laine (Hagemeister) Jeep
A couple of years ago I got a phone call at from a man reporting the death of his father. I asked the caller for his name he said Steve Sharp. Since he was calling from the KC area, I thought that it may be the Steve Sharp that we all know. I said, “Are you a teacher?” He said, “I’m a retired teacher.” I asked “Did you teach at Eureka Jr. High?” He said, “I did. Who is this?” I told him who I was and we had a nice conversation. In the 2 and a half years on that job, I only spoke to one other person that I knew. Sorry to hear of Mr. Sharp’s passing. He was one of my favorites. Even after I was gone from the jr. high, he still came out to baseball games in high school and American Legion. My condolences to Pam and Bruce.
Brian Simpson
He was such a great teacher and he is one of the few that always made a lasting impression. Prayers for the family during this time.
Angie Buchanan Stilley
I love Mr. Sharp! He was one of my favorite teachers! RIP
Risha
I absolutely loved Mr. Sharp. I am saddened to hear of his passing. He was a great Teacher , one of my favorites at Eureka. Loved his humor! I remember fun times during track and field!!
Christine Ketcherside Feagan
So sad to hear this. What a great teacher. I remember alot of us running thru his neighborhood trying to TP houses. He caught on, and hid behind his house and when we came around, he soaked us with the water hose. Fun times.
Kelley Fowler
Our family sends its deepest sympathy to his family. Many many memories of times past as our sons played ball together.
The Kovis family
The smile in that picture is exactly how I remember Mr Sharp from my Eureka Junior High days in the late 1970’s. A teacher that has always stuck out in my mind … a gift to all of the students that passed through his classroom.
Lynda McCracken (Sherman)
My deepest sympathies to the Sharp family. I lived down the street from them, and Bruce and I played together with the other kids on the street while growing up. We continued our friendship throughout our years in school, so I was at their house quite a bit. What a great father, coach, teacher, and mentor! He had such a passion for education, sports and the outdoors and quite a unique sense of humor, too! I have many wonderful memories to hold in my heart.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Bruce, and your family, during this time. I pray for healing and peace.
– Kim Manuel Langham
Mr. Sharp was one of my favorite teachers! Awesome and funny. So sorry to hear of his passing. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Sandy Diekmann
I am one of the many lives Mr. Sharp helped shape at Eureka Jr. High. I was just talking about him the other day! My fondest memories of him include his making sure several of us tried out for volleyball team instead of “just” keeping stats for freshmen football team (he knew we could play because of intramurals and made sure Coach Mumford tracked us down), playing the Stock Market game in his class, playing Current Events games in his class (and that time I was stumped by the question on capital of Alaska and he hinted “you know, YOU KNOW, the answer”…and I still couldn’t get it!), and the expression of loss on his face/in his body language when we learned there had been an assassination attempt on the Pope (passing him in the hallway he was shaking his head, “what is wrong with this world?”). These are just a few tidbits from a 3 year window, tidbits that still echo in my mind 38 years later. He was an incredible man, a gift to everyone who knew him. Please accept my condolences for your loss and appreciation for you having shared him with so many of us.
Tracy (Downs) Standish
Our thoughts & prayers to the Sharp family, especially Pam. Your dad touched so many lives. He made learning fun and orienteering a favorite outside activity. We hold very fond memories of our time at EHS. Our deepest sympathies.
Cathy & Dan Bacon class of 1985
So sorry to hear if the passing of Mr. Sharp.
He was a caring teacher!
Debbie Twidwell Fakes
I am so saddened to hear of Mr. Sharp’s passing. He was my favorite teacher in Jr. High. He encouraged me to do orienteering. I loved the Map Games and the Current Events contest. I remember having him in 7th grade and how he absolutely blew my mind with what was out there in the world to learn and appreciate. He was one of the finest teachers and an even better man. RIP Mr. Sharp. Thanks for making a significant difference in my life.
Rob Echele
My condolences to the family regarding the passing of Steve. I am just hearing of his passing 5 months after the fact and have to say I am shocked and saddened. I first met Steve in the late 1990’s when we started our career with the IRS. Steve was my unit manager in 2005 when we were in the Banninster complex. He was my favorite manager of all the managers I had at the IRS. He was in my dept. unit in 2015 working as a TE like myself, after many years serving as a unit manager. I retired later that year, and I remember him talking of retiring that same year as well. He will be missed. RIP Steve.
Debra (Cox) Longchamps
