OWENSBORO, Ky. — Irene Davis Sharp, 93, of Owensboro, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family Tuesday March 7, 2023, at the Heartford House in Owensboro, Kentucky. She was a second daughter to the late Clara Rose Davis and Ira Davis born December 21st,1929, in Cromwell, Kentucky.
Anyone who knew Irene would tell you, family aside, her first love was the lord Jesus Christ. It was common to find Irene at her table spending many hours a day reading and in deep study of every living word in her bible. Irene was proud to say she came to know Christ as her personal savior while living in Crocker Mo. and loved to share God’s love. Irene Davis got married to Jessie William Sharp on July 4, 1957, by the Rev. Oscar Smith, and they honeymooned in the Smoky Mountains (a place she also loved).
Shortly after marriage Jessie, an MP for the U.S. Army got deployed to Germany and Irene took her first big trip away from her small town. Having never flown in the U.S., much less overseas, she sat out to continue her new chapter of life with Jessie in Germany. Being a military wife, she loved the new adventures in her life visiting France, Germany (lived 2 ½ yrs.), Dutch, Poland, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Azores Island before deployment back to the U.S. – Ft. Leonard Wood/Crocker Missouri.
Jessie and Irene were married for 62 years before his death in 2019. Irene began working at a very young age on the family farm, at a drug store in charge of making milkshakes, G.E. tubing dept section 704 building 10, Daviess County School System as a bus driver for several years, in the makeup department of large department store while living in Germany (despite not knowing much German), she was a babysitter to Jessica/Melinda and Gary Grimsley, Amy/Aubrey/Randy Kohler and Carrie Payne, and a care sitter for Dr. Triplett.
Despite having allergies that often prevented time outside later in Irene’s life she continued to love planting/attending to her flowers. She loved vanilla ice cream, Kit Kat bars, and making sure she & Jessie never went out not looking their best even up till their deaths. Irene loved people and was always laughing. She was often told by people…“Irene you should write a book, you’re a historian”, or “what’s your skin care secret?” (She would laugh and say “Clinique”). In 1969, Jessie retired after 23 years of military service and they moved from Missouri back to Kentucky to be closer to family, enjoying their vacationing around most of the U.S.
Those left to cherish her memory and stories are three children she loved with all her heart, David William, Sandra Mae, and Michael Wayne Sharp, of Owensboro; a sister, Regina Loomas, of St. Petersburg, Florida; many cousins; and several nephews, nieces, great-nieces and -nephews, and great-great-nieces and -nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Heartford House, Dr. Logan, Dr. Roshan Mathew, and all their staff, Lindsey and Brent from Intrepid Healthcare, and a very special shout out to Dr. Patrick Gipe and staff and Creative Image team for all the years of extra care/support and laughs with their mother.
The funeral service for Irene will be at noon Saturday, March 11, at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory with Pastor Phil Skinner officiating. Burial to follow in Sunnyside Cemetery in Beaver Dam. Visitation will be Friday from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service all at the funeral home.
The funeral service will also be live-streamed, follow directions from her obituary page on the website at www.glennfuneralhome.com.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to JSM Sonlight Broadcasting Network located at 8919 World Ministry Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, and the Heartford House, c/0 Hospice of Western Kentucky 3419 Wathens Crossing Owensboro, KY 42301.