Sharon Pauline Kitchen 1938 – 2026

          Sharon Pauline Ellis was born November 21, 1938, in Mountain Grove, MO, to Samuel W. Ellis and Ruby Helen Reeves.  She was raised in Cody, NE, where she completed all primary education attending the local school where her father worked for some years as a custodian.  They were a poor, simple, hardworking family filled with love for each other and served others even less fortunate.  She grew up with 7 brothers and 2 sisters.

          Sharon attended college for a year in Valentine, NE, then postponed further education until the early 1970’s, when she obtained an associate degree in Child Development and education while living in Colorado Springs, CO.

          Sharon married in May 1957, at the tender age of 18 to a young U.S.A.F airman with whom she raised four children, while constantly relocating, courtesy of the USAF, from Florida to Alaska and many places in between.

In 1983 she struck out on her own, back to Colorado Springs, where she eventually was hired by Compassion International and spent the next 20+ years working in various sponsor support capacities.  While there she sponsored many children in different parts of the world, and made trips to Bolivia, Africa, and Indonesia to visit her sponsored children.  After a short retirement in the early 2000’s she went to work for Mission of Mercy for a couple of years in a similar capacity.

In the fall of 2010, she again retired and returned to Missouri staying with family in Bolivar for a couple of years until establishing a residence in Ozark, MO, and helping to raise a granddaughter.  A medical crisis in 2022 forced her return to Bolivar to live with family.  She has since attended and supported the Bolivar First Baptist Church.

          She is preceded in death by her parents; six brothers: Bob, Melvern, Art, Jack, Cliff, and Ben Ellis; and one sister Mary.

          Sharon is survived by her former husband of 20+ years Melvin Kitchen of Belle, MO; four children: Debbi Dobson (David) of Syracuse, MO, Dennis Kitchen (Tanya) of Bolivar, MO, Douglas Kitchen of Ozark, MO, and Di Kitchen of Deland, FL; a sister Dorothy Gray of Colorado Springs, CO; a brother Ron Ellis of Brentwood, CA; and a generous blessing of grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

          Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Bolivar First Baptist Church, with Rev. Ray Leininger officiating, Sharon will then be cremated at a later date.  Online condolences may be made at: www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Pitts Chapel Bolivar, MO.

          Sharon was loved by all who knew her and a blessing to so many.  Strong and courageous in the face of prolonged illness.  Our example and guide.  She will be well remembered and greatly missed!