Shari Y Walter

Shari Marlene Yeates Walter of Sedona, Arizona passed away at her home in the presence of family on October 14th, 2016, after being diagnosed with Leukemia one month earlier.

Shari was born in Alamosa, CO on the 25th of November, 1938 to Calvin and Lavonna Yeates. She is survived by stepmother Jean Yeates, two sisters (Kathleen and Colleen), two brothers (Walker and Jeff), two children (Jerry Jr. and Cary), eight grandchildren (Andrew, Damien, Audrey, Staci, Bailey, Cameron, Jeremy and Casey) and three great grandchildren (Kassidy, Kiera and Plearn).

Shari was raised and lived in Colorado, married in Colorado Springs to Jerry Walter Sr. in 1958, moving to Kansas in 1959. In 1967 she moved to California where she worked and raised her two sons. It was here that she became involved in a number of athletic and sports activities - she was an avid and skilled bicyclist as well as being active in hiking, skiing and backpacking. It was also here that she became involved in her long-term, dedicated volunteer work with Special Olympics. Shari was well-known for her enthusiasm and involvement in many other groups and activities including the Sierra Club, Yosemite Association, San Jose Bicycle Club and Santa Clara Bicycling Association and Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority.

In 1994, Shari moved to Sedona, Arizona to live closer to family. In Sedona she continued her dedicated involvement in Special Olympics as well as a long list of community volunteer work: As a site steward for the Forest Service she watched over many archeological sites and ruins, also contributed her efforts to Red Rock Pathways, Tracks Organization, Northern Arizona Archeological Society, Museum of Northern Arizona, The Heritage Museum, Grand Canyon Association, Sedona Historical Society, Airport and Transportation Communities, Big Parks Regional Coordinating Council, Red Rock State Park and the Sedona Citizens Noise Abatement Committee. In addition, Shari belonged to the Sedona Car Club and attended Village Park Baptist Church.

It was also in Sedona that Shari carried on her fathers legacy with Cal Yeates Photography, making his well-known landscape photography available to the Sedona community, as well as local and online visitors.

Shari was a loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, as well as having many good friends and people who loved, admired and respected her. She leaves us with the many contributions she gave, with many warm memories and with much love for her in our hearts.

Celebration of Life for Shari will be held at the Village Park Baptist Church, November 26th, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. If you wish to make a memorial gift in her honor please send to Cal Farleys Boys Ranch - www.calfarley.org or Cal Farleys, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79194-0001. Gifts in Sharis honor are also welcome at the Special Olympics website - www.specialolympics.org.