Sharon Martin

Sharon Martin passed away peacefully on July 24, in her home in Biloxi, in the midst of her loving family. Sharon was born in Chicago, IL, attended parochial schools and graduated from Valparaiso University. With a career in teaching, she taught for over forty years in Illinois, New York, Texas, and, finally, in the Biloxi Public Schools where she was a gifted and dedicated teacher at Popp’s Ferry and Lopez Elementary Schools and retired from Lopez in 2005. Sharon loved her Savior, her family, her friends, and music. A talented musician, she shared her gift of music in many ways. As a piano teacher, she guided dozens of students from halting first notes to accomplished pianists. As choir director at Bethel Lutheran Church, she spent hours arranging music for the choir to present to the congregation. She substituted for vacationing musicians in local churches. As a song writer, she wrote several copyrighted hymns and, with other musicians produced a CD of music about Mississippi. Always surrounded by music, she loved to listen to all genres, and loved to dance. As a fun-loving grandmother, her seven grandchildren were her joy and she spent many hours playing, guiding, and nurturing them. Whichever child she had just seen was her favorite and she delighted in each. With her winning smile and outgoing personality, she kept in touch with friends locally and across the country and was always the first to respond to their joys and their needs. With her faith central to her life, she was the first to invite friends to worship at Bethel. Meeting David was an answer to each other’s prayers and their time together was brief but wonderful. She will be greatly missed, but her life will be forever celebrated. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Sophie Martin; her sister, Marion; and her brother, Fred. Sharon is survived by her devoted husband, David Hoppe; her sons, Matthew (Amy) West and Timothy (Lori) West; her daughter, Jenny (Andy) Hermetz; and her grandchildren, Kirstyn, Connor, Gabbie, Kaylee, Emma, Bella, and Timothy. A Memorial Service will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church on Friday, July 27, 2018 at 4:00 pm. Friends may visit from 3:00 pm until service time. The Pass Road Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.