Sharon Rey

Sharon Ann Ehli Terrell Rey was born on May 30, 1939 to Steve and Josie Ehli in Billings, Montana. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Thermopolis, Wyoming and opened a shoe shop. Her mother Josie used to share stories of Sharon being raised on a sheep skin throw in the back of the shoe store, and how her father Steve made shoes for all of the children in Thermopolis during the war and the depression.

Sharon attended school in Thermopolis from first grade to twelfth grade. She spent her childhood summers with her grandfather Joe Holtz on top of the Big Horn Mountains in the family hunting and fishing cabin. Her daughters Stephanie and Sally would later spend their summers in the same cabin. When her youngest, Sally was five years old, the cabin had electricity put in. Saturday night baths were still taken in a galvanized tub in the middle of the cabin. There was a two-seater out house, and in the evening two ‘piss potties’ were put on each end of the cabin, one for men and one for the ladies. When Sally was eight, running water was added to the cabin, giving the family a fully functional bathroom.

Sharon met Jim Terrell shortly after she graduated high school, and the couple was married three years later. A year later, on February 4th, 1960 Stephanie Josephine Terrell was born in Thermopolis. Three years later, on June 8, 1963, Sally Ann Terrell was born in Casper. The family moved to Billings, Montana, then on to Bozeman, Montana, where Sharon graduated with her teaching degree. The family relocated to Shelley, Idaho then to Idaho Falls where Sharon finished her student teaching, and spent her first year as a teacher in 1969. She taught school in Idaho Falls until 1982, when the family moved to Casper, Wyoming. Jim and Sharon divorced in 1984.

A year later Sharon reconnected with Frank Sarifin Rey, who was also from Thermopolis. The two wed a year later, and the family gained a mother and a sister Carole Rey, who lives in Houston, Texas. Sharon continued to teach until 1995, when she and Frank moved to Dubois, Wyoming to build their retirement home.

Their retirement years were spent traveling the world. They had visited 39 countries. She enjoyed her five grandchildren and six great grandchildren very much, and it was easy to see these were her favorite people.

Preceding Sharon in death is her husband Frank Rey, her parents Steve and Josie Ehli, and grandson Brandon Nichols West.

Sharon is survived by her daughters, Stephanie (Graham) West and Sally Lott; grandchildren Ryan Rasmussen, Patrick (Amanda) West, Cody (Steffanie) Lott, and Hailee Jo (Adam) Dodd, and six great grandchildren.

She will be missed. Today we celebrate her life. The grandchildren will light this candle to honor the life of Sharon