Obituary of Sharon Lee Tanksley

Bedford – Sharon Lee Tanksley, 72, of Bedford, entered her eternal glory on August 4, 2020 after a brave battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Sharon was born the youngest of a set of twins to George and Shirley (Sego) Gilstrap. Sharon graduated from the Bedford High School in 1967. She married Mike Tanksley in a double ceremony, with her twin sister, on August 19, 1967 and he survives. The loves of Sharon’s life were her husband, children, and grandchildren. She loved nothing more than a backyard full of family on a hot summer day, enjoying the swimming pool and whimsical decorations. Sharon was a member of the Mitchell Wesleyan Church where you could find her attending services, participating in children’s programs and ministering wherever she had an opportunity. In 2002, she played an active role in the building of the Mitchell Memorial Playground. You could find her, every day, providing wheelchair guided tours of the playground as it was being constructed. When MS took her ability to work as a bookkeeper for Smith’s Jewelers, she stayed home and occupied her time by making salt-dough ornaments and pins. They were a hit and all of the Mitchell High School class of 2011 wore a Sharon Tanksley original MHS Bee. Sharon may have had MS, but MS didn’t have her. She continued to do as much as she physically could, right up to the end of her journey. Survivors include her husband, Mike, of Bedford; three daughters, Michele Super and husband, Tommy, Stephanie Chastain and husband, Jimmy, and Sharlyn Redman and husband, Brian, all of Mitchell; her mother, Shirley Gilstrap; her twin sister, Shirley Pinnick, and her baby sister, Ruthie Gilstrap; grandchildren, Alyssa (Super) Williams, of TX, Elizabeth (Chastain) Schmittou, of TN, Alayna Super, of Bloomington, Brady Chastain, of Findlay, OH, Kelsey Faye (Redman) McComb, Geordan Smith, and Cameron Smith, all of Mitchell; a great-granddaughter, Aurora Jane Schmittou; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daddy, George Gilstrap and several aunts and uncles. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Friday, August 7th at the Mitchell Wesleyan Church with Steve Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Cresthaven Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 11:00 am until the hour of service on Friday, August 7th at the church. The family asks that friends consider memorial contributions be made to the Mitchell Wesleyan Church. Family and friends may express condolences at www.daycarter.com.