Sharon Kay Fairbanks

Sharon Kay Fairbanks

May 19, 1944 - December 12, 2024

Sharon Kay Fairbanks, age 80, of Marion, Illinois, passed away Thursday, December 12, 2024, at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.

Sharon was born May 19, 1944, in Buncombe, Illinois, daughter of Otis and Eva Gene (Ragsdale) McHenry. She married Charles Douglas Fairbanks on May 22, 1965, and enjoyed 56 years of marriage.

She is survived by her son, Chad (Heidi) Fairbanks of O'Fallon, Missouri; son-in-law Chris Rutledge of Pittsburg, Illinois; five grandchildren, Kaylee N. (Rutledge) Holmes (Zachary), Rylee E. Rutledge, Cora G. Fairbanks, Carter D. Fairbanks, and Monica R. Pitti. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one daughter, Stacey R. Rutledge, and brother, Robert McHenry.

Sharon graduated from Vienna High School and then attended Draughons Business College in Paducah, Kentucky. She worked as a bookkeeper most of her life for three generations of the same family at Barger Bookkeeping/Accounting. She also worked for several other businesses around town doing the books including Allen's Hair Design and Ivan Zwick. She served as an election poll worker for many years. She loved her family, friends and dear neighbors in Moore Park, where they lived for 42 years before moving. She enjoyed crafts and loved Christmas. 

Visitation will be Saturday, December 21, 2024, from 11:00 AM until 12:00 PM at Mitchell Hughes Funeral home located at 800 North Market Street,  Marion, Illinois. Funeral services will be held immediately following at 12:00 PM with Rev. Gary Holmes, Sr. officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion.  Friends may visit www.mitchellhughesfh.com to leave online condolences. 

Memorial contributions may be directed to Colorectal Cancer Alliance at www.colorectalcancer.org