In Memoriam: Sharon Lannigan

Oregonian Obituary (includes memorial service information)

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Sharon Ann (Giesey) Lannigan
June 3, 1943 - July 10, 2020

Sharon Ann (Giesey) Lannigan died July 10, 2020 in Portland, Ore., of complications from a stroke caused by endocarditis.

Sharon was born in Portland, June 3, 1943, the only child of Paul R. Giesey and Abbie Marie (Simpson) Giesey Shoemaker. Her father passed away in 1950, and her stepfather Bernard "Bernie" W. Shoemaker helped raise her. A lifelong resident of Southeast Portland (excepting seven months in The Dalles), Sharon spent her school years in the Arleta neighborhood and graduated from Franklin High School in 1961. She married Ed Lannigan in 1962, and they settled into the David Douglas School District where they raised their two children and several dogs and cats.

Sharon served as a role model for her children during the equal rights movement in the seventies when she reentered the work force. She forged a distinguished career at the Maywood Center of Mt. Hood Community College, where she served as Administrative Assistant to the Dean of that campus. She won an MHCC Outstanding Support Staff award in 2003, served on and chaired several important committees for the college and professional organizations, taught classes in sewing and life skills to ESL students, and loved interacting with the diverse community of students and staff at Maywood.

Sharon earned an Associates degree from MHCC in 1992, and she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management of Human Resources with perfect grades from George Fox University in 1994.

Sharon was a beautiful and generous soul, a natural-born leader and organizer, who expressed herself through the visual arts. She filled our world with exquisitely crafted quilts and clothing, stained glass, and other beautiful crafts, and she was quick to share her art and artistic knowledge with others. She enjoyed a rich social life, distinguished by service to others. She was an active member of the Columbia River Cairn Terriers Club, the Material Girls quilting group, two book clubs, and several church groups, serving as an important leader and member at Savage Memorial Presbyterian Church in the seventies and eighties, and Fremont Methodist Church from the nineties to the present. She will be deeply missed by her large circle of family, friends, and admirers!

She is survived by her husband, Wallace Edward "Ed" Lannigan, Jr.; and their children, Shannon Thompson (Odell) and Lance Lannigan (Jennifer). She is also survived by her niece, Kim Clemenhagen (Curt); and their sons, Grant and Ryan.

A memorial service celebrating Sharon Lannigan's life will take place virtually on Zoom through Fremont United Methodist Church at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 28, 2020. Please contact FUMC at office@fremontumc.org or 503-284-4647 in advance to attend this service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sharon's honor to Heifer International.

Please sign the online guest book at www.oregonlive.com/obits

Thank you for posting this, Brad!!