Sharon Kempe

Sharon Annear Baker Kempe, 62, was called home by her Lord on Dec. 23, 2007.

She was born May 28, 1945 in Billings, the daughter of Montie and Betty Annear. She was raised in Whitefish. After high school, she attended business college in Great Falls.

Sharon moved to Spokane in 1970, where she worked in the restaurant and travel industries for many years.

For the past nine years, she battled ataxia. The illness was unexpectedly complicated in the last year by an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer, which proved fatal.

Sharon was an avid golfer and belonged to two golf courses in Spokane. She had a love for animals and supported both local and national Humane Societies.

She is survived by Will, her husband of 27 years; her son Lonnie Baker, of Olympia, Wash.;' her mother Betty Kinniburgh, of Kalispell; her sister Debra Eayrs, of Homer, Alaska; her brother Harry Annear, of Livingston; her nephew Montie Annear, in Kyrgyzstan; her niece Kali Macolino, in Eagle River, Alaska; granddaughters Sylvia and Sidney Baker, of Olympia, Wash.; and many nieces and nephews.

No formal service was held. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Spokane, 121 South Arthur Street, Spokane WA 99202 or the Spokane Humane Society, 6607 North Havana Street, Spokane WA 99217.