Sharon Colclasure

Sharon Jo Colclasure was born on a Monday, August 8, 1955 the seventh and last child born to our parents, John and Thelma Colclasure of Carlisle, Arkansas and she died peacefully on a Tuesday, March 8, 2022. She was 66 years 7 months old. Which by all accounts was amazing because she was a Downs Syndrome child, who when she was born, only had an estimated life expectancy of 25 years, which was largely due to most Downs Children, at that time, being institutionalized. Which was something our mother would not even consider, “Thank God for her.”

She was preceded in death by our parents, John Austin Colclasure Sr. and Thelma Ruth (Bodenbach) Colclasure. Also by her older brothers, John Austin Jr, Gerald Thomas, Herbert Raleigh, and James William.

She is survived by a brother Dale Edward Sr (Phyllis) of Little Rock and a sister, Susan Raper (Larry) of Bayou Meto and numerous other in laws, cousins, nephews and nieces and special” ex-sister in law “Marilyn Colclasure that was always just a phone call away. Sharon Jo was a member of the First Baptist Church in Carlisle, where she accepted Her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was baptized into their fellowship.

As for Sharon Jo’s faith in God. She was the first to say she’d pray for you. She had the greatest Godly example in her mother. She loved Sunday School and especially her teacher, Gale Cook, who loved unconditionally. She and her husband Pat loved having parties for the special needs class they taught. She attended the North Hills School for Exceptional Children in North Little Rock and the Lonoke County Exceptional School. Sharon Jo was a lover of everything ELVIS. She had and listened to all of his songs, she had blankets, she had posters and pictures with Elvis impersonators. She had pictures of Elvis all over her room and none of her siblings, if that tells you anything. If Elvis was not there at the Pearly Gates serenading her when she arrived, I know she was going to be upset and you didn’t want Sharon to be upset. She had ways of getting even!!! Like hiding things, like your candy that you had hidden from her. Because of Sharon Jo’s inability to personally take care of herself, it was imperative that others were needed to aid her and educate her. This was important throughout her life. Family members were necessary for this task but there were two special facilities that were extremely noteworthy that went above and beyond what was expected, and they were the Lonoke County Exceptional School under the leadership of Lou Ann Miller and Chambers nursing home in Carlisle, who adopted Sharon Jo, not only as a resident, but as a family member. At Chambers, Lisa, took care of her like “her baby girl” and we will be forever grateful for the loving care all the staff and teachers showed Sharon. But they all commented that Sharon was also the shining light in their day, always smiling, always happy, and always wanting to be of help.

If you have any favorite memories of Sharon Jo we would love to hear them. Just send them to website at boydfuneralhome@sbcglobal.net.

Sharon Jo’s funeral will be held at the First Baptist Church in Carlisle, AR on Saturday March 12. Visitation will be held at 1:00 PM with the funeral service immediately following. Memorials for Sharon Jo will be gladly received by First Baptist Church in Carlisle, 313 S Court Street 72024 or to the Building Bridges Developmental and Community Services, Inc (formerly Lonoke County Exceptional School) Website has a portal for donations.