Lula Vee Sharp's Obituary
Lula Vee Key Sharp Died April 11, 2010 in Austin, Texas after a massive stroke and cerebral hemorrhage overwhelmed her following one of her joyous afternoons tending and taming her perennial garden, then perching on her front porch and basking in rocking chair comfort to relish results of her toils. Living every day with hope and love, every day was a new day filled with her joy for life and her zest for living. Sharing humor and hugs, Lula Vee adorned every cloud with a silver lining. Flowers, roses, crossword puzzles, and preparing simple supper for a friend of a friend or elaborate family reunion feasts were among her passions and delights. Beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Lula Vee was born April 13, 1927 in Dripping Springs, Texas and was the first child of Mollie and Glynn C. Key. Lula Vee was Valedictorian of Dripping Springs High School and a war-time graduate of Durham Business School in Austin, Texas. Lula Vee married Woody Robert Sharp, a World War II Air Force veteran, in 1947 who predeceased her in 1991. Living most of her adult life in Dallas and Mesquite, Texas, a dedicated wife and mother, she worked full time while maintaining household duties and responsibilities for a working husband and four daughters and their numerous activities. For more than 30 years, Lula Vee commuted to Dallas to work in customer service and administration for Dallas Cap & Emblem Company. Later, Lula Vee lovingly assumed role of excellent and supportive caretaker of a long-ill husband and then of her mother. For the past 15 years, Lula Vee delighted in being able to reside again in Dripping Springs and Austin. She was proud and fiercely protective of her late-age independent living arrangements. She enjoyed every second with her family and friends and greatly treasured over the years her friends and her children’s friends. Lula Vee derived particular joy from her participation as member and occasional volunteer of Dripping Springs Church of Christ. Generous, gracious, attentive to both family and neighbors, and unconditional in her love and judgment, Lula Vee’s ever-ready, warm, welcoming smiles and her twinkling hazel eyes always relaying her genuine happiness to see you shall alight all memories of her gentle nature. Lula Vee was deeply loved and cherished by her family, will be dearly missed, and her legacy as a regal lady will live on. Preceded in death by her parents, sister Mary Ellen Key Keele, and brothers Howard Willis Key and Malcolm Ray Key, Lula Vee is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Rose Marie and Manolo Mercado of Fort Worth, Texas; daughter Claire Etta Sharp of Seagoville, Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Ann and Randy Berger of Rock Springs, Texas; daughter Rhonda Nell Sharp Hendley of Mesquite, Texas; brother Glynn C. Key, Jr. and wife Ann Cile of Spanish Fort, Alabama; and brother, Billie Wayne Key and wife Charlotte of Madisonville, Texas. Lula Vee is survived by her beloved grandchildren Christy Mitchell and husband Richard of Forney, Texas; Technical Sergeant Carla Eileen English, USAF, Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Katherine Lee Cole and husband Bruce of Lockhart, Texas; Mollie Renee Sharp and partner Brandon Harris of Austin, Texas; Rusti Rachelle Hendley of Mabank, Texas; Coye Spencer Oliver and Cord James Oliver of Mesquite, Texas; Ximena Mercado of Boston, Massachusetts; and Fausto Mercado of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Lula Vee is also survived by her beloved great-grandchildren, Kendra Alexander, Woody Robert Alexander, and Zachary Mitchell of Forney, Texas; and Audri Grayce Harris of Austin, Texas. Lula Vee is survived as well by many friends, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Visitation will be Thursday, April 15, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and services will be Friday, April 16, at 3:30 p.m., Memorial Chapel, Restland Funeral Home, 9220 Restland Road, Dallas with interment at Restland Cemetery. Memorial services will be held Saturday, April 17, at 5:00 p.m., at Dripping Springs Church of Christ, Dripping Springs, Texas. If desired, memorials may be made to Dripping Springs Church of Christ, Post Office Box 1, Dripping Springs, 78620.
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