Lena Ilene (Goltry) Burris Sharrer, age 86, of Wakarusa, Indiana, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at Miller''s Merry Manor in Wakarusa.
She was born July 6, 1922 in Peru, Indiana to the late Boyd Otis Goltry and Daisy Alice (Melvin) Goltry. She was the youngest of ten children. Her family moved to South Bend when she was 9 months old. She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and four sisters; Deo Goltry, Lester Goltry, James Goltry, Luther Goltry, Ferman Goltry, Roxanna Blinn, Opal Bryan, Florence Richards and Grace Koons.
Surviving is her daughter, Joyce R.(Dale) Sommers of Osceola and four grandchildren; Daniel (Michelle) Sommers of Plymouth, Indiana, David (Christine) Somers of Richland, Washington, Rebecca (Brian) Eastling of Bemidji, Minnesota, and Andrew (Michelle) Sommers of Granger, Indiana. Also surviving are 14 great-grandchildren, Kathryn, Jonathan, Kenny, Charles and Anthony Sommers, all of Plymouth, Indiana, Joshua, Kirsten, Kendra and Kaylee Sommers of Richland, Washington, Theodore, Christopher, Rachel and Benjamin Eastling of Bemidji, Minnesota, and Nathaniel Sommers of Granger, Indiana.
Lena attended Riley High School in South Bend. She loved to travel. After her retirement she traveled throughout the country with her friend. She loved to sing, and loved flowers. One of her greatest joys was celebrating birthdays and holidays with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Lena was employed by Ziker Cleaners in South Bend for over 20 years. She moved to Nappanee, Indiana from Osceola in 1985, then to Wakarusa, Indiana in 2005.
Visitation will be held from 4-8 pm Monday, March 30, 2009 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Osceola. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home. Pastor Ray LaBorde of McCoy Memorial Baptist Church of Elkhart and Ezra Schmucker of Nappanee, Indiana will officiate the services. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be given to Miller''s Merry Manor in Wakarusa where a flowering bush will be planted in the garden in her memory.
"For ease & simplicity in ordering sympathy floral arrangements online, from the comfort & convenience of your home or office, please visit our website at www.memorygardensfloral.com. Numerous photographs for you to browse and a price range for every budget. This is a local floral ordering service and is under the complete direction & supervision of the staff at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home."