Sharon Buffington

Sharon Bartholomew Buffington, 80, formerly of Mt. Vernon passed away on Feb. 25, 2025, from kidney complications. She was born in Chicago, Ill. on March 28, 1944; the daughter of LeRoy W. Bartholomew and Betty J. (Smith) Bartholomew. She graduated in 1962 from Webb City High School in Webb City.

In 1966, she met Marshall Ralph Buffington at Southwest Missouri State College. Attracted to his sarcastic wit they were married the next year.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education and began her teaching career in Mt. Vernon, where she fell in love with teaching sophomores. 

After having her daughter, she received her Master of Arts in English and taught Language Arts, Speech and Theatre at Ash Grove High School, Marion C. Early High School in Morrisville and after earning a certification in journalism, she sponsored the newspaper and yearbook at Springfield Catholic School in Springfield.

She volunteered her time and served on several boards for various organizations throughout decades of her life, oftentimes alongside her husband. She was a member of Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death, and Sleuth’s Ink, the mystery writers group in Springfield. She has several short stories in print and a romantic suspense – The Dreamin’ Tree (under penname Sharolynne Barth), a planned series which her daughter plans to finish editing and publish book two, Tangled Dreams.

She is survived by her daughter, Stacia Marie Buffington; sister-in-law, Linda (Marvin) Sills; one nephew; her great-nephews and nieces; many friends; countless former students and her sweet kitty, Marmalade.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Marshall; a stillborn son, Michael Stuart Buffington; her parents; her grandparents, Harry Bythel and Faye Marie (Harmon) Smith; uncle, Kenneth L. Bartholomew; brother, Lowell Thomas Bartholomew; and nephew, Jonas Ray Bartholomew.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at American Legion Post 676 “The Foxhole”, 2350 North Clifton Ave. in Springfield. Visitation, meal and celebration will follow the service. Wear bright colors to honor her memory.