Harriett Elaine Sharp

Harriett (Ross) Sharp, age 92, of Inman, South Carolina, and formerly of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2026, at her home in South Carolina.

Born Harriett Elaine Ross on May 4, 1933, in Iowa, she was the daughter of Howard Arnold and Jessie Iola (Lyman) Ross. She attended Tama County rural schools and graduated from Toledo High School. On April 5, 1953, she married Leroy Hansel Sharp, with whom she raised five children: Cheryl, Anita, Michele, Theresa “Kathy,” and Troy. The couple later divorced in 1977.

Harriett was a devoted member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, joining by baptism in June 1973. She served faithfully in many roles, including Sabbath School teacher, pianist, superintendent, church clerk, Sabbath School secretary, communications director, investment leader, church board member, and caretaker of the church. She worked a wide variety of jobs throughout her life, including positions in banking, doctors’ offices, insurance agencies, hospitals, restaurants, community college offices, home cleaning, and home health care. She balanced these responsibilities with grace while raising her five children, often responding to the inevitable chaos of a busy household with her characteristic phrase, “pick up the pieces.”

She found joy in gardening flowers and vegetables, canning, freezing, and making jams. A talented needleworker, she enjoyed sewing, quilting, and crocheting. Harriett was also remarkably handy, preferring to tackle projects herself rather than hiring help.

She is now reunited in the great Resurrection Day with her parents, Howard Arnold and Jessie Iola Ross; her brother, Gerald Ross; her beloved sister-in-law, Mary Ann (Ebersole) Ross; her son-in-law, Vaughn Smith; and her brother-in-law, Pat McCarroll. She is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Cheryl Kokichi, Anita Smith, Michele Purdy, and Theresa “Kathy” (Dennis) Bailey; her son, Troy (Lori) Sharp; her grandchildren, Michael Kokichi, Joshua Kokichi, Rachel (James) Burnley, Ashley (Erik) Johnson, Natalie Wagener, DJ Purdy, Kristen (Anthony) Howell, Jennifer (Xander) Upham, Jacob Sharp, Jessie Sharp, Raylinn Sharp, and Elizabeth Sharp; her great-grandchildren, Brandon and Tiana Kokichi, Brillian Qi-Bell, Ashlyn Foreman, Kaeden and Aislyn Kokichi, Brenna Williamson-Burnley, Katlynn Walker, Sebastian and Brynn Johnson, Cora Wagener, Ava Sharp, and Eli Sharp; her great-great-grandchildren, Allayna Rembert and Nova Herman; and her sisters, Deanna McCarroll and Loretta (Edward) Kvapil.