Sharon Elkins Bailey

Sharon “Shari” Elkins Bailey passed away peacefully at home on October 19, 2018. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 25, 1947 to Viola Jorgensen and Roy Miller Elkins.  She was their “Christmas Dolly”.  She was happily raised, along with her two older brothers, in Holladay Utah where she graduated from Olympus High. Soon after graduation, her brother Larry set her up on a date with Merrill Jensen Bailey, a former LDS mission companion of his from the Norway, Oslo mission following a pact Larry and Merrill had made in the mission field (to set each other up with the little sisters).  Shari and Merrill were sealed on May 26, 1967 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.  They lived in Bountiful, Utah for 18 years and were blessed with four children who were the very center of Shari's whole world.  She selflessly sacrificed so much to give them a joyful childhood.  In 1991, they moved to Farmington, Utah where they lived for 5 years before being asked to move to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for an assignment with the Church Education System of the LDS Church.  It was hard for Shari to leave the home she loved, but grew to love the South and the people she served there.  In 2001, she and Merrill moved to Syracuse, Utah where she lived for 12 years where she began her battle with cancer.  The last 9 years of her life were filled with more afflictions than most will have to suffer and was extremely difficult for her, but through it all, she remained loving and kind.

To know Shari was to love her and to feel loved and cherished in return.  She was also famous for her love of holidays and decorating.  Her collection of holiday sweaters is unrivaled!  She loved Christmas most of all because she enjoyed giving gifts to others on HER birthday!  She made many dear lifelong friends in her hair salon, through years working at LDS Hospital, and as a realtor in Baton Rouge, LA. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and her dear husband, as well as other cherished loved ones.  She leaves behind her beloved children: Tiffany (Bryan) Dickson, Brett (Kimberly) Bailey, Taralee (Jason) Eddington, Braydon (Angie) Bailey, 16 cherished grandchildren, her brothers, Ron Elkins and Larry Elkins, and many nieces/nephews and cousins who she was extremely close to.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, October 28, 2018 from 6:00-8:00p.m.  Funeral services will take place Monday, October 29, 2018 at 11:00a.m. with an additional viewing before the funeral services from 9:30-10:30a.m. Both the viewings and the funeral will be held at Russon Mortuary, 1941 North Main Street, Farmington, Utah. Interment will be at the Lakeview Memorial Cemetery in Bountiful, Utah.