Sharon Burton

Sharon Marie Burton, 63, of Kalispell and formerly of Libby, died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007.

She was born July 2, 1943, in Pasco, Wash., to Carl and Valmeda Cole.

Sharon grew up in Libby. She served in the Civil Air Patrol and was a tree planter for the U.S. Forest Service.

During the early 1970s, Sharon and her family moved to Kalispell.

Sharon went to C and C Beauty School and became a hairdresser. She worked at B and B Beauty Salon and then worked for more than 30 years at Country Curl Beauty Salon.

One of her proud accomplishments was writing a winning essay to American Diabetes Foundation. Sharon won a trip to Washington, D.C., and took along her grandson, Nicholas Handford, who was her inspiration. During this trip, she met Gladys Knight and her family.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, David Cole.

She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Don Burton of Kalispell; daughters Barbara Handford and her life mate, Rusty Hayek, of Kalispell, and Marla Handford of Nashville, Tenn.; grandchildren Amber Thompson, Chris Handford and his fiancee, Daisy Berg, Nicholas Handford, Austin Csikasz, Levi Handford and Chance Handford; and great-grandson Gabriel Thompson.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 10, with the Rev. David Sprunger officiating. Cremation followed.

Donations can be made to the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Foundation.

Buffalo Funeral Home and Crematory handled arrangements.