For reasons only God understands, the crosses some people are asked to bear seem heavier than others, and Sharia Dean Jameson, 61, carried hers valiantly until God called her home on September 22, 2018. She was a mother, a grandmother, a sister, an aunt, and a friend, and all who knew her were inspired by the grace she demonstrated throughout her illness with cancer. Those who love her believe she left their lives too soon, but they are happy her suffering has ended and that she has taken her place among angels.

On May 20, 1957, Sharia was born the youngest child of Dora Charlyn and William Donald Jameson in San Jose, Calif. A bright, creative girl, her interests always gravitated towards arts and particularly Native American culture, and as she grew older, she learned to create beautiful beadwork jewelry that she gifted freely to the people she loved. As a young woman, she attended college and worked as a phlebotomist for a time, though she much preferred her years working as a teaching assistant at the Neighborhood Christian School in Santa Clara, Calif. Sharia loved children, none more than the three God blessed her with: Donald, Fawn, and Jason, and the grandchildren they gave her: Gianna, Jason, and Alissa. Sharia also loved God with all her heart and trusted her life and that of her family to His care.

The love Sharia had for her family was a rock they could depend on throughout their lives – unwavering from the days they were born until the day she died, and they will remember her as kind, devoted, sharing, and loving. They also remember that one of her favorite foods was Brussel sprouts, and they thank God that her other favorite food was Mexican. She was a voracious reader, crocheter and beader, and she had a precious collection of bells that will remind her family of her each time they hear one ring.

Sharia will be sadly missed by her children Donald (Ana) O'Dell, Fawn O'Dell, and Jason O'Dell, her grandchildren Gianna, Jason, and Alissa, her sisters Donnie (Thomas) Gordon and Sandra Janney, brother Dennis (Marlene) Jameson, her nieces Lori (Deb) Gordon, Cynthya Porter, Erica (Mark) Burns, Naomi Gordon, Scarlett (David) Robinson Allen, Doralyn (William) Hughes, and Hope Jameson, nephews Russell (Kelly) Mosher, Andrew Gordon, and Jay Jameson, many great-nieces and nephews, and her cat, Sasha. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Friday, September 28, at the Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook, Minn., with services to follow at 2 p.m., also at the funeral home. Please join her family and friends for a celebration of her life after the service at the Field Town Hall. Interment will be at the Field Township Cemetery. To leave an online condolence visit www.mlakerfuneralhome.com