On Monday, July 25, 2024, at 11:05 a.m. the world lost a very special person. Sharon Leslie Vineyard passed away at 71 years old in St. George, Utah, comforted by her loving daughter. She was born in Seattle, Washington, Feb. 21, 1953. She was the youngest of three children to parents Marjorie Mae Clark and Charles Warren Rimestad.
Sharon lived in many places: Seattle, Washington; Anchorage Anchorage; Montvale, New Jersey; Riverside County, California; and finally, St. George, Utah. The list is far from inclusive. She graduated from Poly High, Riverside, California, in 1971 where she was a popular cheerleader. An alum of University of California Riverside, she began as a history major but felt it wasn’t enough of a challenge, so she changed her major to business. She was in the mortgage industry for 40 years. Performing roles anywhere from underwriter to real estate agent.
She loved working in her garden, exercising and shopping. Her quirky design habits were commented on by her many visitors. From it always being Christmas in her home to her furniture choices. A true free spirit unconstrained by societal conventions.
Her only child Megan Vineyard was born in 1983. She pushed and fought for her daughter’s education when none of the school officials thought she was cut for standard classes. Megan later joined the Navy, qualified reactor operator, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in physics and is working on her computer science degree. All thanks to her mother she says.
Sharon came to love St. George when she passed through the city when was an avid skier in Utah in the 1970s. She always loved mountains and views of St. George spoke to her. More than 40 years later she finally planted her roots there in 2016.
She was a fighter until the day she passed. She fought a long and arduous battle against a rare disease the doctors finally settled on as CIDP. Her physical therapist always told her to take it easy. She talked about exercise up until the end. Her willpower and tenacity carried her farther than anyone thought possible.
Sharon is survived by her daughter Megan Vineyard, older sister Markay Pfeifer (second oldest) and eldest sibling Gordon Clark(eldest).
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 30, at 1 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, Utah.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to click here to sign Sharon’s online guest book.