Sharon Kay Fusco

Sharon Kay Fusco, 76, of rural Berryton, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. She was born September 17, 1948, in Springfield, Missouri, to Ruby (Gist) Matlock and Ira Edward Gist. Sharon was the first of four children. 

Sharon graduated from Fort Osage High School in Independence, Missouri in 1966. Following high school, she attended Warrensburg University in Warrensburg, Missouri and later lived near the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri where she met Robert Fusco. Sharon and her husband, Robert, were married on December 4, 1971, in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Together, they built their home near Clinton Lake, in 1978. There, they created a life in the country near Bob’s parents, raising their two children. 

Sharon earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Baker University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She had a successful career at Hills Pet Nutrition, where she worked for 17 years as their Human Resources Generalist and Recruiter before retiring in 2010. 

Sharon loved animals and country life. She enjoyed the animals on the farm, from getting fresh chicken eggs, seeing the baby goats born, spending hours spoiling her dogs, and watching the hummingbirds at the feeder.

After retirement, Sharon enjoyed spending her time gardening, riding her horses, attending horse clinics, and traveling to Washington state to visit her son, daughter in-law, and her three granddaughters. 

Sharon was passionate about family, and she loved hosting Thanksgiving dinners and playing trivia with her loved ones during the holidays. She also devoted some of her time to volunteering, assisting adults with reading comprehension as a literacy tutor in Topeka, Kansas. 

Sharon is survived by her husband, Robert Fusco; her children, Brian (Valerie) Fusco and Linnzi (Grant) Rust; her granddaughters, Adalyn, Veda, and Everly; and her siblings, Brenda (Dan) Mitchell and Edward (Rebecca) Gist. She was preceded in death by her parents: Ira Edward Gist and Ruby (Gist) Matlock and brother, Jerry Gist.

Graveside inurnment services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Clinton Cemetery.

Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota Ave. is assisting the family with service arrangements.

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