Sharon Denslow

Sharon Kay Phillips Denslow, 77, of Elyria, Ohio, an author of numerous books for children, passed away on January 31, 2025 after a short illness, surrounded by her family.

She was born in Murray, Kentucky on August 25, 1947 to Joe H. and Mary Elizabeth Phillips. They later moved to Benton, Kentucky where she attended Benton City Schools and graduated in 1965. Sharon then attended Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky and graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

While attending Murray State, she met her husband Leroy (Tony) Denslow. They later married on June 13, 1969 on her grandparent’s front porch. Her grandfather Dewey Riley officiated the ceremony. After they were married, Tony and Sharon moved to Ohio where she has lived for the past 55 years.

Sharon worked as a children’s librarian at Porter Public Library in Westlake, Ohio for 30 years ultimately overseeing the children’s department. Sharon also has written numerous children’s books including Night Owls for which she was awarded the Juvenile Merit Award, Friends of American Writers in 1991, and the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award in 2000 for her book Big Wolf and Little Wolf.

Sharon earned recognition from the ALA Notable Book award for her books Georgie Lee and All Their Names Were Courage, a story about the horses rode by Civil War generals.

Sharon was on the board of the Firelands Archaeological Research Center and enjoyed participating in area archaeological digs and programs. She also loved spending time outdoors often enjoying the local metro parks, including her favorite Sandy Ridge in North Ridgeville, Ohio.

Sharon loved gardening and watching her flowers and herbs grow. Her backyard was like a mini-sanctuary. She had a true love for animals great and small, but had a special place in her heart for cats.

She loved adventure and travel when she could. Her favorite places included The Outer Banks of North Carolina, England, and the Western United States. Sharon often frequented Jamie’s Flea Market and other antique stores looking for hidden treasures.

In her journaling, she wrote “If it weren’t for the flea market, I wouldn’t have much in my house.” She spent many hours painting with pastels, creating, and drawing.  Above all else, she loved spending time with her husband, daughters, and grandchildren.

Sharon is survived by her husband, Tony, her two daughters Erin Boron (Brett) of LaGrange and Kate Denslow (Matt Esser) of Amherst, and her three grandchildren Addison Boron, Henry Esser, and Nora Esser, a sister Tammy Barclay (Greg) of Cordova, Tennessee,  She was preceded in death by her parents Joe Hilton Phillips and Mary Elizabeth Riley Phillips.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Multiple Breed Rescue in Grafton, Ohio, Friendship APL in Elyria, Ohio, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, or any of your local metro parks and libraries.

Visitation in Ohio will be held at Laubenthal- Mercado Funeral Home 38475 Chestnut Ridge Rd.  Elyria, OH 44035 on Wednesday February 5, 2025 from 4-7 p.m.  Burial will be February 15,, 2025 in her hometown of Benton, KY.

Visitation in Benton will take place at Collier Funeral Home from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2025.

A celebration of life will begin at 3:00 p.m. at Collier Funeral Home followed by interment at Cole Cemetery.

Online condolences to the family may be expressed at www.laubenthalmercado.com