Sharon Guidry

Sharon Ann “MIMI” Guidry, age 79, was taken home by her Lord and Savior on August 11, 2022.

She is survived by her children; Denise Guidry Hettinger (Roger May) of Lansing, MI; Diana (Kirk) Grzelka of Dryden MI, and Jimmie Guidry Jr. (Jill Wilson) of Homosassa Florida.

Grand Wonders are Janelle Jackson (Chase) of Yelm, WA and Leira Caruso of Cape Coral, Florida. Great-Grand Wonders are Haiden, Gavyn, Tieraney and Taevyn of Yelm, WA and Carson and Kingston of Cape Coral, FL.

Her sisters, Dot Scott of Grand Prairie Texas, Carol Lacy of Sam Rayburn, TX, Cathy Jardell of Port Arthur, TX and her Sister-In-Law Darlene Guidry of Houston, TX also survive her, along with her nieces and nephews Dee Ann Smith, Stacy (Theresa) Lacy, Sue Thornell, Robin Scott-Cox, Steven Odom, Brian Claud, JoLynn Claud Jordan, Sarah Jardell, Jacob Jardell, Janene Perry, Rajene Perry, Todd Guidy, Brian Guidry, Carlana Guidry, Leigh Ann Guidry, Alicia Guidry, Bubba Guidry and Kevin Guidry.

She was preceded in death and has been reunited with her husband Jimmie A. Guidry Sr. of Vernon, Michigan; her daughter Dawn Guidry of Cape Coral, Florida; companion, William Jones of Vernon, Michigan; her parents Louise McElrath (Joy) of Port Arthur, Texas and Harold Jones (Johnnie) of Sikeston, MO.; several brother-in-law’s, and her niece Patricia Lacy of Port Arthur, TX. We’re sure the gumbo pots are over-flowing as they celebrate together the promise of ever-lasting life through Jesus Christ.

She will be dearly missed by her very close and special friends, Nancy Finkbeiner, Al Zalewski and Rick Drake, Annette Connie & Jon, Bill & Mary Isaacson, Al Nechvil and Carol Hendrickson.

A Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at Sharp Funeral Home located at 8138 Miller Rd., Swartz Creek, MI from 3-7 PM, with a Celebration of Life from 6-7 PM for people to share their memories and stories of Sharon with her family and friends.

On Wednesday, August 17, 2022, a visitation will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church located at 700 Columbia Drive, Durand MI from 10:30-11:00 AM preceding a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. A luncheon will immediately follow the Mass before proceeding to the Vermontville Woodlawn Cemetery for graveside services and interment. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 PM at 10911 W. Vermontville Hwy, Vermontville, MI.

Sharon Guidry was born Sharon Jones in Malden, MO. At the age of 10 she moved to Port Arthur, TX with her mother and sisters. She worked a paper route starting at the age of 12, and as a photographer’s assistant until she graduated in 1961 from Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, TX. She was a proud member of the TJ Red Hussars from 1959-1961 and served as Drum Sergeant. She met the love of her life, Jimmie Guidry, Sr., in 1958 and they married in June of 1961. She moved to Michigan that same year. They built their dream home in 1972 in Vernon, MI and raised their 4 children in a safe, small-town community that had an excellent school district.

Sharon’s faith was paramount in her life. She joined the Catholic Church in 1966 and all of her children were baptized in the Catholic faith. She taught Catechism from 1967 to 1978, mostly at St. Mary’s of Durand. She continued to counsel and guide many people on their spiritual journeys, always reinforcing God’s love and his promise of everlasting life. On her final day, at the conclusion of her Last Rites, she opened her eyes, looking directly at the Priest and proclaimed: “I have the Victory … in life and in death… I’ve had that since I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was 7 years old.”

Sharon was very active in her community, and especially with children’s events and programs. She was a pre-school teacher (1973-1974), “house mom” for the little league football team (Vernon Vikings), served as a Board Member for both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, served as a Volunteer for Toys for Tots and Old Newsboys, and loved building floats for parades. She was a Volunteer for Special Olympics, which she so deeply enjoyed - - especially when David Finkbeiner won the Gold medal while using mom’s pink putter!

She also taught Pre-Apprenticeship Math for 2 summer sessions at Mott Community College, was a lifetime member of AmVets Auxiliary, served on the Vernon Civic Club, was a member of the Durand Eagles and S.E. Shiawassee Association, volunteered for the United Way, the Buick Open, The Crim, and several PTAs and PTOs, and campaigned for a number of publicly-elected officials. Somehow she managed ALL OF THAT before Franklin Planners and cell phones were ever invented.

Her first job in Michigan was at the sweltering Vlasic pickle factory in Lapeer during canning season. Sharon later went on to work at Harriman’s Dairy, Cogdon Sudios, Michigan Bell Telephone, Olin Craft and Ferrel Gas in different positions until she hired into General Motors Flint Metal Fab as a Certified Welder in 1977. She served as an Alternate Committee Person in UAW Local 659 before beginning her Skilled Trade Apprenticeship at the Cadillac-Grand Blanc Plant in 1981 as a WEMR. She graduated from Mott Community College as an Electronic Technician with a Certificate in Math and finished her apprenticeship in 1984. Sharon was elected as a Trustee and to the Executive Board of UAW Local 1292 and served on every Committee during her tenure. She was the first woman appointed by Rueben Burkes as a Union Organizer representing UAW Region 1C. She traveled to Washington D.C., Chicago and many other places as a UAW representative. She worked closely with Dotty Jones in organizing the first “Women in the Trades” Conference and served as Editor of the Grand Blanc union newsletter “Impressions.” She retired from General Motors in 2000.

She loved to travel and made memories in Italy, the Eastern and Western Caribbean, The Bahamas, Canada, Mexico and Alaska. If you knew Sharon, you know that there was always an unexpected adventure no matter where she was going!

She made Florida her permanent residence in 2012 and enjoyed the warmer weather, the beach, new-found friends (along with old ones), and the Cape Coral Hobby Club. She also enjoyed cooking and sharing her tips and tricks in the kitchen, which you know if you ever watched “Cooking with Mimi” on Facebook. She could cook up a storm and loved everything from fine dining to beans & corn bread! She called bacon grease “liquid gold” and after one of her masterpieces was ready to serve she’d say - - “Oooh that tastes so GOOD!” in a cajun accent that would crack us up laughing. Her kids are masterful in the kitchen and will continue her legacy.

Mimi loved gardening - - and her vegetable gardens were something to envy! She also loved MSU football, Detroit Red Wings and the old Flint Generals (season pass holder) hockey, NASCAR and Midget racing. She would follow the WOWMS Midget racing circuit taking videos and then editing and preparing their videos as keepsakes for drivers at a professional level. Her creative talents were numerous, and at some point benefited just about everyone that knew her. Her tool collection would make most men jealous and she was often solicited to “loan” something out. She also loved to fish and could run a fish fry like a pro. She spent many deer seasons in the kitchen supporting the hunters in

their quest to get that trophy buck and either consoling or celebrating with them. She had her own hunting and fishing stories that could rival any of “the guys” and was a prolific story-teller!

Time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her so much joy. She celebrated every milestone and accomplishment like they had just walked on the moon! They kept her going through these last 5 years while she battled breast cancer.

Sharon leaves so many memories for us to cherish. The family would like to share an excerpt of her final letter which she wrote to all of us, her family and friends:

“Life is a rollercoaster ride with ups and downs, varied speeds, curves and straight, highs and lows - - a ticket I did not purchase, but one I was given that I could not get off of until the day I died. On this ride I shifted gears many times, but the gears never failed because they were oiled and maintained by the grace and mercy of God Almighty. Thanks be to God and to his son Jesus Christ for sustaining me, for keeping me safe, for not allowing me to be unbuckled and projected out of the seat.” – Sharon Guidry

Yes, it was quite a ride, Mimi! Rest in Peace now and we will be reunited with you in God’s eternal kingdom.

Special thanks to all of the friends in Florida and Michigan that helped her (and the family) this past year, to the Doctors and staff that cared for her, especially to the nurses at Sparrow Hospital – 5th Floor Oncology - - you were EXCEPTIONAL during her last hours, and to the staff at Sharp’s Funeral Home for their assistance and guidance as we say our final goodbye.

Please share your memories with her family and friends via Sharon’s Facebook page and on the Sharp Funeral Home website. Donations will be directed to charities that Sharon supported.