Sharon L. Mai
Jul 23, 1943 -
Jul 28, 2020
Sharon Lee Mai, 77, of Phoenix, Ariz., died in her sleep the morning of Tuesday, July 29, 2020. She was a generous, giving person to the end. She and her husband, Melyn D. Mai, volunteered many years in the Senior Ministry at Northern Hills Community Church. She loved animals and always put others first.
Sharon was born on July 23, 1943, to Orville and Magdalene Clute in Boyne City, Mich. She graduated from Boyne City High School in Michigan in 1961, and majored in education at Michigan State. She married Thomas G. Sheets, also of Boyne City, and after graduation they ventured to Alaska to teach in several small rural villages, including Chalkyitsik, St. Paul Island, Kaltag and McGrath. They are well-remembered by hundreds of students throughout the state.
Sharon and Mel were married in 1984 in Anchorage, Alaska, and lived there for 15 happy years in the Turnagain area with Sharon's daughters, Kelly and Dana. They loved the outdoors, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, canoeing and camping. Sharon taught elementary school for many years in Anchorage before retiring and becoming the Office Manager for Mel's heating and plumbing businesses.
In the year 2000, the inseparable couple moved to Phoenix, where Sharon began making jewelry and artwork from cactus and other found objects.
Sharon is survived by her husband, Mel Mai; her sister, Ella Negri (Domenick); her brother, Tim Clute (Sandy); her daughters, Kelly Sheets Dickson (George) and Dana Hansen (Todd); her grandchildren, Tommy Hansen (Amelia), Mailey Hansen and Jacob Hansen; her stepdaughter, Natalie Mai; nephews, Mark White (Janelle); Artie Clute (Becky), Jody Clute (Marrijo) and Traverse Sheets; and nieces, Tara White-Davenport, Nadja Putters (Tom) and Nickey Fortune (Gary).
She was predeceased by her parents, Orville and Maggie Clute; her brother, Art Clute; her parents-in-law, Donald and Ruth Sheets; her ex-husband, Tom Sheets; and stepdaughter, Katrina Mai Scott.
A service for Sharon was held at Northern Hills Community Church in Phoenix at 3 p.m., on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020.
