Sharon Kay VanAtten

Sharon Kay (Grimes) Van Atten, 75, of Adair, passed away on Monday, November 27, 2023, in Tulsa. She was born on February 5, 1948, in Wagoner, Oklahoma, the daughter of Eugene W. Grimes and Bonnie B Grimes. Sharon has been a member for over 20 years at Utopia Baptist Church. She is a graduate of Wagoner High School, and in 1973, received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Northeastern University. In 1969, she joined the United States Navy and was trained as a Legal Clerk and Court Reporter. In 1981, Sharon was hired as an English, History, typing teacher, and cheer coach in Adair, Oklahoma. In 1996, she was named Teacher of the Year. Sharon found great joy teaching and working with cheerleaders. She loved going to all the school sporting events. Her favorite sport to watch was softball, since she played that sport. Of all the state championship games Adair won, she only missed one. She retired in 2011 from teaching as well as coaching cheerleading after 30 years. Her legacy is her family, friends, and students.

Sharon is survived by her daughter, Jacque and husband Larry Burns; four grandchildren, Shelby McSlarrow, Sydney Crabtree, Jaxson Burns, and Alex Burns; 2 great granddaughters, Cambria and Amira Burns; special friends, Brandy and Joey Johnston; brother, Wayne Grimes of Wagoner, Oklahoma; two nieces and two nephews; and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents and one niece, DeLynda Sue Reeves and sister, Carolyn Reeves.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 1, 2023, in the Adair Event Center with Reverend Phil Tallman officiating. Burial will follow in the Pioneer Cemetery with Trent Peper, Darren DeLozier, Devin DeLozier, John Hendrickson, Justin Wilson, Tanner Hugley, Chell Looney, Drew Crawford, Tony Rosebrough, and D.J. Roy serving as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers will be Jerry Adams, Jack Dryden, Clifton Collins, Tom Linihan, Dennis DeLozier, Mark Lippe, Bob Looney, Brad Rogers, Mike Back, Ernie Berg, and Jack Kinion. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, November 30, 2023, at Shipman’s Funeral Home in Pryor. In honor of Ms. Van’s love for the Adair Warriors, the family requests that friends and family wear Green, Gold and White. To leave her family a message, please visit her Tribute Wall at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman’s Funeral & Cremation Service.

** Before and After Ms. Van's service, there will be tables set up with the many hundreds of pictures she had taken throughout her years at Adair Public Schools. The family asks that you go through them and feel free to take any that you are in or that you would like to have**