Sharon Lee (Sundsten) Cloninger

Sharon Lee (Sundsten) Cloninger:

Born: 4-28-57

Died: 2-19-21

After a long struggle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Leukemia Sharon ended her life’s journey peacefully at the Seattle home she occupied while being treated at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. She was surrounded by her family.

Sharon was born in Portland, Oregon to Albin (Sud) Sundsten & Margaret (Midge)

Sundsten. After early years in Portland & Bellevue, Washington, the family moved to Concord, California in 1965.

Sharon graduated from Concord High School in 1975, then received a BA in Recreation from Chico State and a Master’s Degree in Recreational Therapy from the University of Oregon.

She had a varied career in her early professional years as both a practitioner & instructor in Recreational Therapy. She married Karl Cloninger in 1984, and they had two children, Kaitlin Rose & Justin Daniel. Sharon & Karl settled in Yakima, Washington in the mid 1980’s following Justin’s birth.

Sharon began a long career with the State of Washington in the field of Developmental Disabilities in 1987. Due to her remarkable planning & leadership abilities, she soon moved into administration in community services in Eastern Washington. In 2014, she moved to Lacey, Washington to assume statewide responsibility for community residential services for people with Developmental Disabilities, where she worked until the time of her death.

In 1998 Sharon married Jerry Tucker in Yakima, Washington. They enjoyed many activities together: camping, cooking, gardening, singing, travel, and concerts among others.

Sharon was an avid lover of the outdoors. After college , she hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Yosemite National Park — an excursion of many months. Sharon had many passions that captured her interest, including photography, scrapbooking, gardening, camping, cooking, world travel, and music. She loved family gatherings and hosting friends and family to come together at her home. Her Christian faith was foundational and of lifelong importance to her.

Following their move to Lacey, Sharon & Jerry became active members of Lacey Presbyterian Church. They enjoyed that loving, faithful church family very much, becoming church Deacons together and enjoying Bible Study Groups as well as a trip to Israel and Egypt. The constant support of their church family helped to ease the struggles of Sharon’s disease.

Sharon was preceded in death by her father Sud & brother-in-law Larry McIntosh. She is survived by her husband Jerry, daughter Kati & son-in-law Aaron Siegel with their son Lukas, her son Justin, her mother Midge, two sisters, Susan McIntosh, Nancy & husband Lin Spier, numerous nieces & nephews & adult step children & their families.

A memorial service will be live-streamed via Lacey Presbyterian Church on March 20, 2021 at 1 pm PT via the following link: Laceypres.org/watch.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pacific Crest Trail Association or Lacey Presbyterian Church.

Share memories of Sharon and condolences with her family on the Tribute Wall located above.

Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

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