Vivian Lynne Sharp

Vivian Lynne Apple Sharp, 56, of Stigler passed away Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, in Stigler, surrounded by family and friends. She was born on Nov. 7, 1961, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to William Robert and Lou (Albert) Apple.
As a member of the Army, Lynne’s stepfather’s job required several cross-country moves while she was in school. She attended high school in Lawton, lived on base at Fort Lewis, Wash., for a time, and graduated at Rattan High School in the Class of 1980. Following high school, Lynne attended Southeastern State University in Durant, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and continued her education there and earned a master degree of behavioral studies in counseling/psychology in August of 1984. She started her life’s career of working with youth by going to work with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, in the Child Welfare and Day Care Licensing Division.
Lynne married Tommy Joe Shimp on Sept. 26, 1987. She and her family moved to Memphis, Tenn. in 1991, where she held a job as the director for an adoption agency for several years before returning to Oklahoma in 1993. Lynne entered the field of education as a school counselor in 1995 when she worked part time at Bokoshe Public Schools, before transferring to McCurtain Public schools in 1999. Lynne began working for Kiamichi Technology Centers at the McAlester campus in 2006 and transferred to the Stigler campus in September of that year, where she retired in 2017.
Lynne loved her students and the work she did with them. She gained much satisfaction in helping her students plan and prepare for their careers.
Along the way, she and Tommy had five children. Some of Lynne’s favorite memories were of watching her children play sports in school, and felt blessed to see them all become followers of the Lord, Jesus Christ. To her children, she wants you to know that she loves each of you more deeply than can be expressed in words, and has always been so thankful God selected her to be your mother. She remembers the first time she held each of you, and it was magical. Lynne was so proud of her grandchildren once they started arriving.
Lynne also enjoyed reading, music of all kinds and curling up in a recliner with a cat on her lap.
Lynne would be the first to admit that her faith in Christ as her Savior is what gave her hope for the future. She believed God knows the beginning and the end and everything in between. Throughout this journey, her faith, her family and friends have given her strength and hope every day. Lynne is joyful today to be reunited with loved ones, including two babies that died before birth. Please don’t mourn her passing, but rather celebrate with her as she is in the presence of Jesus Christ, her Savior, and the Eternal, Loving Father. She is feeling no pain or sadness, but rather is rejoicing in the beauty that surrounds her.
Lynne is survived by her husband David Sharp; her children, Houston and Alisha Sharp, Rebekah Shimp, Hannah and Shane Rogers, Logan Shimp, and Rachel Shimp; her four grandchildren, Janslee Talyn, Houston Jr, Piper Elizabeth and Lillian Adelaide; her mother, Luceita Smith; her sister, Melani Black; her nephew, Alan Black; her stepbrother, Charles Russell.
Lynne was preceded in death by her father, William Robert Apple; her stepfather, William Elbert Smith; her maternal grandparents, Francis and Lena Hansmeyer, Walter and Ruth Albert; paternal grandparents, William and Mildred Apple.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 24, 2017, at Stigler First Baptist Church with the Rev. Gene Murry officiating. Pallbearers will include John Henry Parsons, Alan Black, Alton Allred, Mark Cates, Houston Shimp and Logan Shimp.
Burial will follow immediately to Stigler Cemetery under the direction of King & Shearwood Funeral Home of Stigler.
Donations can be made in memory of Lynne Sharp at the First Baptist Church, Christmas Shoe Box Project or to the Cancer Society.