Sharon Lea Kerns

Sharon L. Kerns, age 74, of Canon City, Colorado, formerly of Kansas and New York, passed
away peacefully Sunday, March 7, 2021 while at Parkland Medical Center in Pueblo, CO.
Sharon was born February 26, 1947, in Little Falls, New York, daughter of Harold Lewis
Chambers and Eva Mae (Hall) Chambers. She graduated from Ilion Jr-Sr High School, Ilion, NY in
1965. After high school she attended Washburn University of Topeka, KS, where she majored in
music education. She and Alvin Preble married in 1969 in Salina, KS, and shortly thereafter
moved to Casper, Wyoming, where her son Wesley was born in 1970. Sharon returned to
Kansas in 1972 with her son, and completed her college degree at Marymount College in Salina,
Kansas. While in Salina, Sharon was a dedicated member of the French horn section of the
Salina Symphony.
Life took Sharon back to New York for several years, and then back to Hillsboro Kansas, where
she stayed until moving to Colorado in 2005. While in Kansas she met and married Ron Kerns,
who passed away in 1985.
Sharon has been a church musician since high school, playing for nearly 55 years in many
churches, including St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, Ilion, NY, Good News Christian Fellowship
Church, Marion, KS, and concluding her career in Canon City at St. John’s Lutheran Church until
her retirement last year. She also used her musical education to teach music appreciation in
community colleges, and was a substitute teacher both in Hillsboro, KS and in Canon City, which
were endeavors she thoroughly enjoyed.
Sharon was a very caring individual, and spent much of her working life in the medical field,
serving as a nurses’ aide and CMA in several nursing homes and assisted living centers in
Kansas. She also expanded her world view by hosting many foreign exchange students, some
with whom she has remained in contact.
Sharon was a devout Christian and gave much energy and dedication to her spiritual life, to the
churches she played in, and to the churches she called home, such as Good News Christian in
Marion, KS, and Vineyard Church in Canon City.
Sharon is survived by her son, Wesley, daughter-in-law, Jeri, and their children, Samantha and
Tyler Phillips, Sean and Logan Preble, all of Oklahoma City, and grandchildren Kylie and Joshua
Preble/Reagan of Sherman, Texas. She is also survived by her sister Caryl Chacey-Guba (Tom
Guba) of Lawrence, KS, and brothers Roger (Joyce) Chambers of Utica, NY and Edward
(Salvacion) Chambers of Lafayette, IN. Additionally, she leaves nieces Karen Chacey Gipson of
Kansas, and Kalynda Chambers of Indiana, as well as nephews Larry and Victor Chambers of
New York and Michael Chacey of Kansas. Sharon was predeceased by her parents, and
granddaughter Kelli Preble/Reagan
Funeral services will be held at The Vineyard Church 245 S. Raynolds Ave., Canon City, on Saturday March 13, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. with
inurnment next to Ron Kerns. Services this summer will be held at Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church at 1498 Kanza, Hillsboro, Kansas 67063. Day and time of service will be held Thursday July 1, 2021 at 11:00 A.M.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations either to The Vineyard church, Canon City or to St.
John’s Lutheran Church also in Canon City.
The family wishes to thank Sharon’s friends Stacy Swaggart, Rebecca Cooling, and Celeste Wilson for their love
and support of Sharon in the physical absence of family due to the pandemic, as well as the
doctors and staff of Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, CO for their skill and care during her
illness.

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