Sharon Vida Race Spataro's Obituary
Sharon Vida Race Spataro died February 28, 2020 at the Poppen House in Muskegon, Michigan. Sharon was born September 19, 1954 to Herbert Race and Violet (Steele) Race, in Belding, Michigan. Her early life was influenced significantly by two people, Vera Almas, her foster mother and Frank Hagadus, her stepfather. As a teenager she exhibited her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit by building and rehabbing houses. Sharon never let anyone define what she could or could not accomplish. Sharon graduated with honors from the evening high school program in Fruitport, Michigan. She went on to earn a straight A average for two years at Muskegon Community College. Sharon married Carlo Vincent Spataro, August 22, 1990. Together they built a loving marital relationship that lasted 30 years. Together they raised Sharon’s daughter, Heather, who Carlo adopted in 1994. Sharon earned her real estate license and went to work for the Century 21 Real Estate Agency in Muskegon, Michigan. She won numerous awards as she rose up the ladder of success as a realtor. She became one of the most successful real estate agents in Western Michigan. Eventually, she opened her own real estate agency called, Custom Agency, in Spring Lake, Michigan. After retiring from the real estate industry, Sharon got licensed as a permanent makeup artist making many friends among her clients. Sharon enjoyed fashion, home decorating and gardening. She truly had a “green” thumb. One of Sharon’s specialties was creating designer cakes for weddings and birthdays. She and her husband enjoyed traveling and relaxing while watching a good movie or TV series. She is remembered by three sisters, Dorothy Boerma, Julie Neilson and Marilyn Belifus and three brothers, Dale, George and Carl Race. To numerous nieces and nephews, she was a very special aunt. Sharon loved her immediate family which included her husband, Carlo, the light of her life, daughter Heather Dawn Courson and Heather’s husband Matt Courson and she was an adoring grandma to their children, Matthew, Mason and Brandon. Sharon also had special bond with the grandchildren’s other grandmother, Beverly Mills. Sharon also leaves three stepchildren, Carla Jane Martinez, Lawrence Spataro and Angela Rose Cook, her husband Kevin Cook and their two children Thomas, and James. She was loved and remembered by many. A CELEBRATION OF SHARON’S LIFE will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, March 7, 2020 at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444. VISITATION will be from 4-7 PM Friday, March 6, 2020 at The Lee Chapel. Burial will be in Nunica Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Harbor Hospice Foundation – The Poppen Residence. You may sign her online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com
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