March 23, 1961 — Nov. 9, 2024
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Sharon Kaye Holzer, 63, of Lewiston, passed away in her sleep late Saturday night Nov. 9, 2024, at her home.
Sharon was born at Bloss Hospital in Atwater, Calif., on March 23, 1961 (her mother’s birthday), to Gerald and Billie (Green) Holzer. She was the fourth of five children.
She spent most of her youth at Merced Speedway, where her father and brothers raced cars and motorcycles. While cheering for her dad at age 10, a boy named Wayne Unruh noticed her. They officially met and fell in love at age 16. They married at age 24, on May 18, 1985, and welcomed their first child, Melissa, into the world on May 28, 1985. Their second child, Joshua, was born Aug. 1, 1986. They divorced a few years later.
Her parents moved to Lewiston in 1992; Sharon followed in 1995. Other family members lived in Lewiston, and they were all grateful for the reunion.
Sharon was involved in a terrible car accident, which made her say, “It’s good to be alive in ’95.” Soon after the accident, she met the love of her life, Bob Chapman, and they lived in the Lewiston Orchards for nearly 25 years.
Sharon was a sweet-spirited, artistic person. She was known for her artistic nature. She once won a ribbon for one of her floral scratch art pieces at the Merced County Fair, and she once taught a scratch art class at Merced College. In her later years, her creativity shifted to the kitchen where she loved to bake cookies.
She is survived by her loving partner Bob, son Josh Unruh (Katie), of Lewiston, daughter Melissa (Eddie Hill), of Driggs, Idaho, five grandchildren Bodie and Barrett Unruh and Colter, Clara and Mason Hill, sister Sue Cauwels (Mark), of Atwater, brother Jerry Holzer, of Orofino, aunt Diane Holzer, of Lewiston, uncle Bob Holzer (Jan), of Orofino, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her mother Billie in 2010, brother Michael in 2015, father Gerald in 2017, sister Christine Dixon in 2018, uncle Rich Holzer in 2023 and aunt Grace Becker in 2024.
Her wish was to be cremated, with some of her ashes spread at a beautiful spot along Pine Creek, near Pinehurst, Idaho. The rest of her ashes will be entombed at the Winton Cemetery in Winton, Calif.
A family gathering in celebration of her life will happen at a later time.
