Sharon Joy Rhoads was born on June 4, 1941 in Temple, Texas to A.C. and Mary Berger Chaffin. She graduated from Temple High School and earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Southern Methodist University. On June 1, 1963, she married Jack Rhoads in Temple, Texas.
After a short stint in Dallas, Jack and Sharon moved to Katy in 1972 where they began a lifelong commitment to the children and community of Katy. Sharon began teaching art at Katy Elementary and moved to Hutsell Elementary when it opened in 1978. However, her talents did not stop at the elementary school level. She was a board member of Keep Katy Beautiful for nearly 20 years and was always willing to offer her creative flair to decorations around town for the holidays or beautification projects. Her design for the Harvest Plaza logo can still be seen in downtown Katy. In 2004, the Katy Independent School District honored Jack and Sharon with the naming of Jack and Sharon Rhoads Elementary School. The Katy Chamber of Commerce named Sharon the 2008 Volunteer of the Year in honor of her dedication to not only the city itself, but many organizations such as the Katy FFA. Sharon left a lasting legacy in all of the students and families she taught, and all of the citizens of Katy who knew and loved her.
Sharon Joy Rhoads passed away on Sunday, January 10, 2021 in Katy.
She is survived by her children, Jeff Rhoads and his wife Trisha of Abilene, Texas, and Jennifer R. Walker and her husband Fred of League City, Texas; grandchildren, Jon Rhoads, Jaycee Rhoads, Kennedy Walker, and Brittyn Walker; and great granddaughter, Myles Hohman; brother, Joe Chaffin and his wife Donna of Academy, Texas,; sister, Peggy Lipsey and her husband Bob of Round Rock, Texas; brother-in-law, Orval Rhoads and his wife Diane of Pattison; as well as numerous other relatives and a host of dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Jack Rhoads, in 2000.
The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, January 15, 2021 at Katy First Methodist Church, in Katy, where funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. with Dr. Richard L. White officiating. Interment in Katy Magnolia Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests those wishing to make memorial gifts do so to a scholarship fund established for a 2021 graduating senior who was an alumnus of Jack and Sharon Rhoads Elementary. Checks may be made payable to Jennifer Walker, c/o Schmidt Funeral Home, 1344 W. Grand Parkway South, Katy, TX 77494.
Pallbearers will be Fred Walker, Jon Rhoads, Doug Hanson, Billy Johnson, Tell Hohman, Todd Thompson, Austin Hanson, and AC Chaffin. Honorary pallbearers will be Albert “Doonie” Thompson, Jr., Joe Chaffin, Frank Miller, Orval Rhoads, Mike Schroeder, Don Elder, Jr., Roosevelt Alexander, and Freddy Flores.
Funeral services held under the direction of:
Schmidt Funeral Home
1508 East Avenue
Katy, Texas 77493
(281) 391-2424