VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Sharon Kessler Fulcher, 80, of Villa Ridge died at 1:50 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, at Anna Nursing and Rehabilitation.

She was born Sept. 26, 1936, in Cairo, Illinois, the daughter of Arthur John and Mena Harriet Deimund Kessler.

Sharon graduated from Cairo High School in 1954, being head drum major of the Cairo High School band.

She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cairo.

Sharon was a writer for the Cairo Citizen, writing the column titled "America News" for many years. She was an Arthur Murray dance instructor in Paducah, Kentucky; manager at the Fill Up Mart in Cairo; and retired from Pilot House in 2000. Upon retirement, Sharon enjoyed gardening the organic way. She loved animals, flowers and growing food.

Sharon is survived by a son, Jeff Crowell of Cairo; nieces, Jan (Rick) Heuring of Jackson, Yolanda Smith of Louisville, Kentucky, and Karen Smith of Naperville, Illinois; cousins, James W. "Buddy" Mahoney of Atlanta, Daisy Rae Mahoney Dille of Topeka, Kansas, and Jay East of Fresno, California; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Martha Ann (Bob) Smith.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Crain Funeral Home in Cairo.

The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. James Muriuki officiating. Interment will be at Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge.

Memorials may be made to the donor's choice and will be accepted at the funeral home.

To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.