Sharon Heslop Wiser, 84 passed away on the second of February 2018, just as she lived, surrounded by loving friends and family at her home in Pullman WA. She lost her battle with cancer after eleven years of declining health due to Alzheimer's disease.
Sharon was born June 25 1933 in Ogden UT to Jesse Heslop and X Y Zella Malan Heslop. She moved from their West Weber farm with them and her two older brothers, J and LeRoyden, to a farm and rustic pioneer home in Kaysville UT where she lived until 1953. Sharon graduated from Davis High School in 1951, attended BYU for two years, and married Horace Clare Wiser of Brigham City UT June 19 1953. They met at the family- oriented amusement park Lagoon, in Farmington UT, where Clare was the food manager and Sharon was the best candy floss maker in the world and the 'sweetest girl on the midway'. Clare joined the US Air Force as a weather officer in 1953 toward the end of the Korean War. Sharon followed Lt. Wiser to Seattle WA, Roswell NM, and Big Spring TX. After four years in the Air Force they moved to Salt Lake City UT where Clare earned a PhD in mathematics at the University of Utah in 1961. Their last major move was to Pullman WA where Dr. Wiser was a mathematics professor at Washington State University until his retirement in 1996. Sharon worked at the student bookstore and at the coliseum ticket office.
As an avid reader, Sharon broadened both the scope and depth of her understanding. At WSU she and Clare 'sat in' on several courses on literature, history, and anthropology. Later, near retirement, they developed a love affair with Elderhostel programs (basically weeklong courses at various attractive locations) attending about thirty on birdwatching, shipwrecks, drawing, watercolor, opera, gospel music, marine ecology, hiking, Broadway musicals, Hopi culture, etc. Sharon was a gifted craftswoman doing leatherwork, cake decorating, ceramics, crocheting, sewing, rock polishing, and especially quilting (creating more than 450 quilts and being a member of Stitch-n-Study, Patchin' People, and Palouse Patchers). She enjoyed bowling, birdwatching, photography, cooking, camping, and hiking but most of all being with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Travel was an important part of Sharon's life including visits to almost all of the states, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, seven countries in Europe, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia. Most satisfying, perhaps, were an extensive investigation of her family roots in northern Italy, and revisiting her father's mission area in Polynesia, and her brother Royden's in New Zealand.
Sharon was an active member of the LDS (Mormon) Church holding many teaching, service and administrative positions, including Primary President and Relief Society President. She did extensive volunteer work in the community and for many years, together with her friend Shirley Franks, fabricated hand puppets and gave puppet shows for schools,
churches, hospitals, and community groups.
Sharon is survived by her husband Horace Clare Wiser in Pullman WA, daughter Cherie Meservy (Jerome ID), son Steven J Wiser (Leavenworth WA), and daughter Jolene Ning (Farmington UT) as well as 14 grandchildren and 28 great- grandchildren scattered from coast to coast. She was preceeded in death by her son Shawn Douglas Wiser, and brothers J Malan Heslop and LeRoyden Heslop.
Sharon had a zest for life, an ever-present smile, and an unmatched capacity for love and friendship that will be sorely missed.
The family wishes to thank the Kindred Hospice of Pullman for their efficient and kind service. Friends are invited to pay respects from 5-7 pm on Friday, Feb. 9th at Kimball Funeral Home in Pullman, WA. The funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, Feb. 10th at the Pullman Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, 1055 NE Orchard Dr. Visitation in the church's Relief Society room will take place one hour prior to service. Graveside service with grave dedication will follow at the Pullman Cemetery. Kimball Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.