Roll Call Tribute

Sharon Marie (Kuhn) Young 

December 30, 1958 - January 9, 2024 

The life-of-the-party candle, Sharon Marie Kuhn Young, was extinguished on Jan 9, 2024.
Sharon was born in Buffalo, NY on Dec. 30, 1958. She was a unique friend to hundreds of souls. Her thoughtfulness influenced many and always would make people feel special. She had a laugh that could make your day.

Sharon put her stamp on the world in many ways. In 1977, she was the Editor-in-Chief of the Robert E. Lee High School yearbook, publishing The Saber along with her faculty friend Margaret Wisdom.

She matriculated at Texas A&M University. Her college career was interrupted by serving in the Peace Corps. Sharon's well-known persuasive skills allowed her to become the first volunteer in the program's history without a college degree. Ironically, her assignment was teaching crop accounting to Paraguayan farmers; this from a woman who could never balance her checkbook.

Sharon finished her BBA at A&M and later earned an MBA from Northeastern University. Her career centered on the publishing business, with stints at major college textbook firms such as Oxford University Press and Pearson North America. The latter portion of Sharon's career focused on transforming and marketing college course materials into digital and virtual formats.

One of her joys was writing the column "Off the Cuff" (penned by "Sharon Marie"), sharing her observations of life and the many characters she encountered. Sharon's creative nature also was expressed by authoring a children's book, "A Pocketful of Virtues," and making beaded necklaces and dog collars for her tribe of friends.

Sharon was a lyrical wordsmith, writing beautiful poems and songs to recognize births, weddings, funerals, and other significant events in her friends' lives. They were meaningful psalms, intended to celebrate and praise her love of the friends and family who surrounded her.

She had varied musical interests: Christmas carols, old standards, a few country songs, and strumming to her own tunes. Sharon was not a Frank Sinatra fan per se, but because she was very much her own person, one of his songs is most apropos: "I Did it My Way." Boy, did she ever.

Sharon is predeceased by her parents Betty Kuhn Brouthers and Milton Kuhn, and her former husband Hugh Young. She is survived by her siblings and their spouses: Marsha Kuhn Williams (Tommy), Jeffrey Kuhn (Cynthia), and Diane Kuhn Rager (Brent); her loving nieces, nephews, and their spouses Paul Williams (Michelle), Mark Williams (Whitney), Alicia Kuhn, Kristen Kuhn, David Rager (Laura), Jonathan Rager (Anne Marie), and Julia Rager (Kyle), and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Sharon was a long-time member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, and a celebration of her life will be held there on Tuesday, January 16, at 2:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary (3471 Westheimer Road). The family invites you to a reception in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service.