 - TISON, Sharon Dee
- For a woman who described her early adult self as "June Cleaver", Sharon Tison took an enormous risk when she moved from Spokane to buy a tiny, failing drive-in restaurant in Ritzville. "I had no options", she said, "there could be no failure."
- Sharon displayed the same bravery in the days before she passed away at home on November 13, 2008, at the age of 67.
- Born Sharon Dee Kendall on October 18, 1941 in Pocatello, Idaho, she early on showed an adventurous nature. Her parents, Uel and Lura Belle Kendall, worked in an Oregon shipyard during World War II. With money tight and the war going on, the "Kendall kids" tended much to themselves. Growing up in rural Oregon and later, in Washougal, WA, she and her 5 siblings would wander the countryside, climbing a rickety tower in an attempt to catch pigeons, or riding their draft horse, Bill, until he'd grow tired of their antics and brush them off under a low branch.
- In high school, her adventurous streak continued. She and friend Anita would skip school and cruise in Anita's '57 Chevy. Sharon credited her Social Science teacher for turning her around: he flunked her! Always a good student, she was shocked, but admitted, "I had been being lazy."
- In 1961, Sharon married Lee Tison, who was training to become an airline pilot. Soon, she had four young and demanding children to tend to. So began her 'June Cleaver' stage, during which she admits even vacuuming in high heels! Trying to be the perfect wife and mother was difficult, with her husband mostly away on flights. Yet her children remember the home-made cakes and decorations done separately for each child, even though their birthdays were clustered within 9 days in March.
- Twelve years into the marriage, Sharon's patience with an absent and philandering husband had reached its limit. Knowing she would have no one to depend on but herself, she was hired by a Spokane Safeway, her first real job since baby-sitting for $.25 an hour. She moved quickly into management. A few years later, she was ready, and the couple divorced. Times were tight but the family made it work, and Sharon rediscovered her feisty, fun, risk-taking side. "That was when I really started living", she said.
- It was almost on a whim that Sharon purchased the drive-in in Ritzville, but she wasn't dissuaded by the prospect of hard work. Her vision was to create a homey, pleasant place, one that made people want to come back. Very soon, her vision became reality. Locals came to Sharon's Drive-In clamored for the juicy Rustler burgers, and travelers would plan return visits around the drive-in's hours. An indoor seating area was added, and Ms. Tison and her crew delighted in decorating it for the holidays, and dressing in costume for Halloween. Business boomed. Longtime friend Kathy Staley remembers, "…two summers working 7 days a week, 10 hours a day. Sometimes we crawled out of the building!"
- As the community came together to support Sharon and her business, so did she contribute back to Ritzville. She sponsored T-Ball, charity drives, D.A.R.E., the Lions Club and police league teams. In fact, the parking lot was often dotted with police cruisers, and semis filled the lot across the street, two signs always indicative of excellent and affordable food.
- Ms. Tison had always had a fascination with old buildings and historic towns. Her decision to join the city council was based on a desire to save and restore the old high school. Having never been involved in politics, she struggled to have her voice heard. Her opinions and recommendations weren't always welcome, but they were honest and well thought-out. Soon, folks were listening.Sharon's determination contributed not only to the rehabilitation of the high school, but also Carnegie Library, Burroughs Museum and Pioneer Plaza. "I made a few enemies," she once said about the battles she'd fought, "but most of them became friends."
- In 2003, Sharon sold the drive-in and set out to enjoy retirement. Although her hands had become crippled with arthritis, she created hundreds of beautifully beaded and stitched Christmas stockings. Attending local auctions and yard sales, she filled her home with antiques. Sharon's friends envied her luck on the casino slot machines. Best of all, she had time to travel and experience new things.
- On a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with her daughter, Lori, they decided to go deep sea fishing. Sharon was worried about her hands, so they concluded that if the fishing became too difficult, Lori would take the rod.
- "We got into a huge school of dorado," Lori described, "and Mom got the first hit. It was a big one, and she was battling to reel it in. So I asked, 'Do you want me to take over?', and she yelled, 'No way! This is MY fish!'" Sharon caught 7 of the 13 dorado they brought home, the largest about 35 lbs. "Her hands were so sore the next day, but she just loved it!" Lori said.
- Never letting her advancing age or her disability get in the way of a new experience, she tried wind-surfing, snorkeling, off-roading, hiking, sea-dooing and horse-back riding. Road trips became adventures, and she didn't hesitate to set off cross-country by herself. Returning from a trip to Denver, Sharon stopped to explore Yellowstone, where she saw 6 grizzlies and made several new friends, one of whom she corresponded with until the end.
- One of Sharon's favorite trips was to her family's beach house in Long Beach, WA. It was on a recent trip there that she broke a rib. Upon medical examination, it was discovered that she had Stage 4 lung cancer. After a miserable stay at a Spokane hospital, she was finally released to go home to Ritzville, the town she had grown to love. That love was returned, tenfold. After a steady stream of cards, calls and visits, Sharon was heard to say how lucky she was. The outpouring of support and well-wishes astonished and humbled her.
- She shouldn't have been so amazed. Right up to the end, Sharon Tison showed her selfless, caring nature as she tidied up details of the estate as her family and friends tried to make her as comfortable as possible.
- Sharon was my mother, my friend, and my hero. She was a strong, smart, loving lady, and I will miss her so much, as will all who had the luck to be part of her life.
- Sharon is survived by her mother, Lura "Dolly" Mitchell, of Washougal, WA; sisters Uela Spanier of Vancouver, WA, Diane Walden of Everett, and Sandra Peake of Washougal; daughter Lori Welter of Longmont, CO; son Mark of Seattle; sonStephen of Wenatchee; son Ron of Spokane; and four grandchildren.
- A celebration of Sharon Tison's life was held November 15th in Ritzville. Private remembrances are planned for the family at a later date.
11/20/2008 » Notices » Funerals » link to this ad |
