Fern Sharp Obituary

Its with great sorrow and much love that we announce the passing of Fern Sharp, 95. Fern succumbed to complications due to a fall, on March 22 2025, at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital. She was surrounded by family.
Fern will be deeply missed by her family and her beloved husband of 73 years, Bradford L. Sharp; children, Wendy Call Kent (Bill) Mountain Home, AR, Daniel L. Sharp (Cindy) Olympia, WA and Terry Fugina Sharp, Mountain Home, WA; her grandchildren, Allegra Call Woodard, PA, Kyla Fugina Sharp, CA, Eric Fugina CT, Joshua A. Sharp (Natasha), LA, Christopher R Sharp (Alisha), WA; her great grandchildren Anayla and Amilla Woodard, Ethan Lautenslager, and Alice Fern Sharp.
Fern was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Mary (Buchanan) E. Coffelt, Sacramento, her brother, Bobby "Bud" Coffelt, Sacramento, and her first husband Roger Call, Sacramento.
Fern was born in Oakland, CA on New Year's Eve, 1929. Her parents moved to Sacramento, CA where she graduated from Sacramento High School in 1948. While living there she worked at a movie theater where she met Roger Call, the manager. They married later that year, where after they would bring life to their daughter Wendy in 1951. Sadly, Roger died of cancer the following year, 1952.
She continued her education at Sacramento Junior College, where she was active in the Kappa Gamma sorority. She studied Business and had a proof machine operator certificate. Fern met Air Force Cadet, Brad Sharp while attending college. They married in Reno, Nevada in 1952. While Brad was in the Korean War, Fern remained in Sacramento. A son, Daniel Lee, was born. Her first joint foreign assignment with Brad was to Hokkaido, Japan. To get there she had to take a ship across the Pacific with her two young children. It was not a luxury cruise, and she often told the tale of the difficulties they experienced. That assignment led to many lifelong friendships. Not only did she encounter a new foreign language but soon learned what all the military acronyms meant. She was the perfect hostess and so skilled in entertaining. Fern was a military wife when hats and white gloves were the proper attire. Over the years, it was a non-paying career that involved a lot of responsibility, volunteerism, protocol, learned self-sufficiency, and strength. She excelled at having a "stiff upper lip" Her ability to help others through periods of peace, war and just life's difficulties made Fern an outstanding military wife! Those skills were used in her following assignments, Korea, Japan, Turkey, New Mexico, Germany, England and Sacramento. One of her finest accomplishments was raising three children, while Brad served one tour in Korea and three tours in Vietnam. They also were able to do a lot of traveling with their assignments. She was fortunate to see so many historical places before many were destroyed or restricted.
After Brads' military retirement, they moved to Lake Almanor Peninsula, CA, in 1982 where Fern worked in Real Estate. Fern had a passion for art. She was an accomplished watercolor painter, and selling her art. She was involved in many art groups over the years. Fern made even more lifelong friendships there. Her passion was in nature and animal paintings. Fern loved her animals, both cats and dogs she had over the years. They were all just part of the family. She had a very kind and compassionate heart.
They moved to Casa Grande, AZ to get out of the snow, for over 10 years they lived there. In that time, they were snowbirds, coming to Washington to cool off during the hot summers of AZ. They lived in Montesano, Tumwater, and Olympia during those times. Around 2015, they moved to Olympia, Washington permanently to be closer to their family.
During their lifetime, they also travelled all over the United States in a motorhome, visiting family and military friends. Fern also supported Brad in his civilian piloting groups, many times she would cook dishes for their get togethers.
Family was always very important to Fern. She was a very loving mother and grandmother. Always loved yearly camping trips to Lake Almanor with her extended family, prior to their move there. Great thought went into giving her gifts. She made sure the kids had good coats. Fern will be remembered for her blueberry muffins and countless other great meals. She was so generous in that way. Her hand-painted cards were a delight to all! She also loved gardening, crocheting, reading, playing and watching golf, and discussing politics. Fern was known for her great patriotism. Fern truly was a gem of a person. She was the foundation of her family and will be greatly missed by all.
At Fern's request, there will not be any services. Funeral Alternatives is handling the arrangements. The family would like to thank the MultiCare Healthcare system of Olympia and Tacoma for the recent care of Fern.