Sharon Merrill Newsham passed away peacefully at age 77, surrounded by her family at Strong Memorial Hospital in upstate New York. Sharon was born on March 7, 1948, to Robert and Betty (Kentfield) Merrill in Owosso, Michigan. She graduated from Owosso High School in 1966 and started a family shortly thereafter. While raising two perfect daughters, she started her career spanning ten years at Michigan State University working in the Chemistry department. This is where she met the love of her life Mark Newsham. At the time, he thought she was too skinny, so he brought her a jelly donut from Quality Dairy every morning. They were married on June 24, 1989, and moved to Midland, Michigan where she furthered her career at Dow Chemical retiring in 1998.

Sharon loved her family and friends deeply. She made lifelong friends wherever she went. She made them a priority and always put others first. She was a feisty woman, who enjoyed traveling, camping, and cooking for her family and friends. No matter how amazing the dish was, she critiqued it and always found something she could have done better. She loved watching the Detroit Lions, the Buffalo Bills and was a die-hard Michigan State fan (GO GREEN)!

She is survived by her husband of 37 years Mark Newsham, her daughters Kelli Corner and Brandi Hegyi, four grandchildren Beth Anne Rosenbaum, Jakob and Rebecca (Wray) Hegyi, Cameron Rosenbaum, Zakary Hegyi, great granddaughter Adelyn Hegyi, her brother Robert and Elizabeth (Seymour) Merrill, her mother-in-law June Newsham, nieces and nephews R.J and Amanda (Stoerman) Merrill, Yvonne (Merrill) and Harrison Somoza and Charlie and Meg (Manning) Merrill and countless friends she considered family.

She is predeceased by her parents Robert and Betty Merrill, and her sister Mary Anne Merrill. A celebration of life will take place later when the weather is warmer, Sharon always loved the sun and warmth, and we will celebrate her then. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Wilmot Cancer Center located in Rochester, NY.