Obituary of Rita Sharp
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Age 91, of Mt. Morris, formerly of Standish, died Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at Maple Woods Manor. A private funeral service will be held at Martin Funeral, Cremation & Tribute Services of Mt. Morris, with burial to follow at Flint Memorial Park Cemetery. Pastor Brian Southerland to officiate. The family will be present to receive friends from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may be placed on Rita’s tribute page at martinfuneralhome.com.
Rita was born in Standish on August 10, 1929, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Stella (Jamrog) Maday. Educated locally, Rita graduated from Sterling High School as the Valedictorian of her Class in 1947. She worked at First Federal Savings and Loan in Flint. Rita was an MTG loan processor for 22 years until her retirement in 1982. She met Joseph Ellard on a blind date, fell in love, and was united in marriage to him in 1956. Sadly, he preceded her in death on May 18, 1969. In 1973, Rita would meet and fall in love with George Sharp. They spent 37 wonderful years together. Sadly, he preceded her in death on June 19, 2010. Rita loved to bake cookies and was very active in her church, Colonial Hills Baptist; she was known as “The Cookie Lady”. She was the church recording secretary for several years, volunteered as a Sunday school teacher, and taught in AWANA. In her free time, Rita enjoyed bowling on a league with George, cooking, baking, sewing, and working in her flower garden.
Rita leaves to cherish her memory daughter: Michelle and husband Byron Voorheis III; son; Michael, and wife Michele Ellard; three step-daughters: LoAnne Culver, Laura, and husband, Alan Dodds, Velna Sharp; granddaughter: Nicole, and husband, Max Lutz; two grandsons: Byron Voorheis IV, Graham Wellman; two great-grandchildren: Jacob and Bella Lutz; brother Ted, and wife Marie Maday; one sister: Dorothy Scheid; and several nieces, nephews, and friends.
Rita was preceded in death by husband of 12 years: Joseph Ellard; husband of 37 years: George Sharp; two brothers: Frank Maday, Robert Maday.