Sutton resident Sharon Ann Griess, 86, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, on her 86th birthday, at the Sutton Community Home in Sutton. In honoring Sharon’s wish to be cremated, no public services will be held. A private graveside service will be conducted at the Sutton Cemetery. In her honor, we invite you to wear purple as this was her favorite color. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Sutton Community Home or York Adopt-A-Pet. Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial. com. Sharon was born on Jan. 17, 1938, to Ervin and Verna (Griess) Schmer at the Sutton Hospital in Clay Co. Nebraska. Several years later Sharon became a big sister to Gary Schmer. Sharon’s favorite thing to do as a child was to play with her animals, even dressing them up and pushing them around in the baby stroller. The family lived just a couple miles east of Sutton, in Fillmore Co., until Sharon met and married Wesley ‘Wes’ Griess in September of 1954 at her parents’ home. Once married she didn’t move far, only a mile south, initially living in the garage while they built the family home. During her marriage to Wes, they had three children: Jerlyn Sue, Brenda Lee, and Wesley Wayne. As an adult, on top of taking care of her children, she worked other jobs including being at the beck-and-call to Wes, whom worked the farm around them. There are many stories she would talk about her time working with Wes. Sharon’s jobs off the farm were working the bomb line in Grand Island, cooking at Skyliner Café in Sutton, making wedding cakes, and later cooking at the Sutton Nursing home where the residents enjoyed her home-cooked meals. When she wasn’t working, you could find her at home either sewing, gardening, painting, other craft projects, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Wes died in March 2010 after a short fight with cancer. Retirement was good to Sharon, allowing her to spend more time in her sewing room sewing, raising her two cats (Lucy and Hermione) and playing with her great-grandchildren. Sharon was very proud to be able to pass on her love of cooking, and her prized recipes, to her great-granddaughters. In 2013, Sharon moved into Sutton because the farm was too much to manage on her own. For the past 10 years when asked what she was going to do with her time, Sharon responded with “whatever I want to do” which could have meant sewing, watching the birds outside, working in her raised garden, or just sitting in her chair with her cat(s) watching the Hallmark Channel.

Sharon was a member of Way of Grace Fellowship in Sutton. Sharon is survived by her daughter, Jerlyn (John) Williams – Jason Domeier: Kaytlyn and Jason Jr., John Wesley (Tori) Williams: Bella and Trenton: Jon and Tristen Daughter, Brenda (David) Winter – Ryan and Amy Winter: Kaitlyn and fiancé, Gordon Gulbrandson, Whitney, and Elyzabeth Sarah Winter: Liam Son, Wes (Kim) Griess; – Kelli Griess: Emmalyn Garrett (Dona) Griess: Briella and Ryker Brother, Gary (Deb) Schmer Numerous brothers/sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and Maize.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Verna and Ervin Schmer; her husband, Wesley Griess; brothers/sisters-in-law; and Lucy and Hermione, her beloved cats.