Sharon K. Simms, 78, of Shawnee, KS, passed away Sunday, July 31, 2022, at her home surrounded by her loving family. The Rosary will be prayed at 4 p.m. with the visitation from 4-6 p.m. Friday, August 5, at the Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS. The Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 6 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 11311 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the KU Endowment to benefit the MS Achievement Center at KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044, or to St. Joseph Catholic Church of Shawnee.
Sharon was born February 9, 1944, in Kansas City, MO, the daughter of Charles and Margaret (Tschirhart) Sulzen. She worked as a Legal Secretary for Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy for 25 years before retiring in 1992. Sharon was a lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee. Sharon significantly impacted the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) community over the last 35 years. She, along with Dr. Sharon Lynch, was one of the founding members of the MS Achievement Center (MSAC). The MSAC is a place to enhance the quality of life for those with MS. Sharon was instrumental in helping their shared dream become a reality. Her legacy will live thru this organization for years to come. As part of her passion for assisting those living with MS, Sharon was the JoCo MS Support Group Facilitator for 30 years. Only the recent pandemic ever prevented the group from meeting in person. While volunteering countless hours for the National MS Society-Mid America Chapter, she created the “Adopt A Rider” program for the MS150 Bike Ride and provided strong leadership of the local MS Walk in Lenexa for years.
Along with her tireless efforts on behalf of the MS community, Sharon was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She touched countless lives, inspiring her family, friends, church, and MS communities with her spiritual, positive, and inspirational presence. Her absence will leave a hole that only the memory of her kindness can begin to fill for those lucky enough to know her.
We want to thank Advanced Home Health & Hospice for their exceptional care, compassion, kindness and love towards Sharon. Thank you for helping us navigate this journey with her.
Sharon was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Charles Simms, in 2007. She is survived by two sons, Kevin Simms and his wife, Karrie, and Shawn Simms and Dana; two daughters, Tanya Gassett and her husband Chris, and Melissa Payne and her husband Tom; grandchildren, Cari, Katherine, Austin, Devin, Derek, Mackenzie, Michael, Sophia, Cody, Kyle, Isabelle, and Logan; two great-grandchildren, Adam and Kaylee.