Sharon Kelly Pate of Denver passed away on July 20th, peacefully at home. Sharon, 83, fully embraced her roles as a daughter, sister, wife, mom, grandma, friend, and co-worker. She never sought the spotlight. Instead, she offered an approachable, loving ear to whoever needed a lift or a laugh. Always easygoing, Sharon was humble, courageous, and dignified. She had enough kindness in her heart to warm the whole world. And she was fiercely protective of the ones she loved. Born in Denver on Sept. 20, 1942, to Gay & Loudon Kelly, Sharon was seven years younger than her brother, Gale. When she was a baby, their family moved to Salt Lake City for several years before returning to Colorado and making Park Hill their home. Sharon attended Park Hill Elementary, Smiley Middle School, and East High School before heading to Centenary Junior College in New Jersey. She finished her elementary education degree at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority. Once at CU, after a few years of letter writing across the country, Sharon reconnected with Steve Pate, whom she’d met on a blind date during high school. He would become the love of her life. The couple married in 1964 at Montview Presbyterian Church, and she began teaching third grade. They welcomed a son, Scott, in 1968, and a daughter, Kelly, in 1970. Several years later, they built a home in Greenwood Village. When their kids were young adults, Sharon and Steve moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., and then to Greensboro, N.C. Both worked in the furniture and design business. After Steve passed away in 1999, Sharon returned to Denver and worked as a sales and design consultant at The Rug Source showroom until she retired to embrace her grandma role full time. Sharon is best remembered for the woman she was – trusted, loving, fun, and genuine. She treasured family vacations, whether she, Steve, and their kids were traveling around the U.S., abroad, or to their favorite destination: Steamboat Springs. She loved visiting Scott and his wife, Lisa, first in Chicago and then in Washington. Her sense of adventure started early. Around age 5, “Sherry” would sneak out of the house during the dark, early morning hours while her family slept, and visit the neighbors. So her dad, Loudon, added a latch high on the door, out of her reach. But she was a crafty one, and popped the latch with a broom handle. Ultimately, it took a padlock and a stashed-away key to keep her from sneaking out. When she was a little older, Sharon and a neighborhood buddy often played outside, which sometimes involved jumping from garage roof to garage roof in their alley. As she got older, Sharon was more likely to follow the rules than break them. But then again, there was the night she and two girlfriends met up with some other “friends” (boys!) at Bonsib's Drive-In, formerly at Colfax Avenue and Olive Street. Sharon forever loved movies – especially in theaters, with popcorn. One of her favorite teenage memories was walking to the movies with her mom, Gay. Once married, Sharon and Steve hosted many family gatherings and dinner parties with friends, filled with lively conversations, music, and laughter. She was a night owl. Sharon was in a book club and especially enjoyed historical fiction and stories about shipwrecks. She loved to walk, and after she retired, walking became a daily ritual – whether alone, with a friend, or with her daughter, Kelly. When visiting Scott and Lisa, north of Seattle, Sharon loved to explore the wooded area surrounding their home. As a mom, she expected her kids to try their hardest in school and other endeavors, but she valued effort, intention, honesty, respect, and kindness over “A” grades, goals scored, or other accolades. She loved them unconditionally and was always available to them. When her grandsons were young, Sharon cared for them whenever possible. She often picked them up from school and attended their sports games and school performances. She hosted countless sleepovers filled with card games, movies, ice cream sandwiches, and pancake breakfasts. If she hadn’t seen the boys in a while, she’d call Kelly and ask to have them over. Sharon had a great sense of humor, and others felt at ease around her. She was genuine, warm, patient, and loyal. She wasn’t one to make waves, unless principle was involved. Once, she defended their family golden retriever, Sox, in court against a neighbor who had accused him of killing her chickens. In presenting her case, Sharon included the expert opinion of a local veterinarian who explained that the lethal injuries suffered by the chickens were likely the actions of a weasel, not a dog. She won the case. In each phase of life and every place she lived, Sharon developed strong relationships, many that spanned many decades. She and some girlfriends started a bridge club in the 1970s. And while they put the cards away a while ago, the “bridge club” continues to meet up for lunch and laughs. Friends and family also remember Sharon as an attentive listener, someone they could confide in and who would listen without judgment. Sharon lived her last decade with cognitive decline and a more recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Fortunately, she maintained a high quality of life before her passing. Her sense of humor was intact, and she often made self-deprecating jokes. She recognized close family members who visited, as well as friends and the compassionate staff in her assisted living community. She was blessed with a deeply devoted and loving private caregiver. She relished taking car trips just about anywhere. And she still loved to walk every day. Sharon leaves behind her children, Scott Pate (Lisa) and Kelly Dwyer (Brian), and grandsons Miles and Hayes Dwyer. She was preceded in death by her husband, Steve Pate, and her brother, Gale Kelly. She is also survived by a large extended family, including sisters-in-law Cindy (Pate) Jessop, Andrea (Pate) Wilson, and Nancy Kelly, as well as many nieces and nephews. Services are private. If you would like to attend Sharon's Celebration of Life, please contact Kelly at celebrationforsharonpate@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Community Resources Inc., a local nonprofit that provides art & science experiences, family events, and mentorships for students in Denver Public Schools, or Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Denver, which helps advance literacy in young children.