Sharon was born Sept. 25, 1952 in Lake Jackson, TX. On March 26, 2015 Sharon died peacefully and joined her Heavenly Father ending her 6 year battle with cancer. Sharon's family moved to Michigan in 1962. She completed her high school studies in three years and was valedictorian of her graduating class at Dow High school in Midland, MI. She was a National Merit Scholar, attending the University of North Texas for two years then transferred to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. where she met her future husband, Wesley Beal. They met for the first time in 1972 at an Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship meeting, discovering a shared love for and commitment to Jesus Christ. While completing her MM in musicology at Eastman in 1976 Sharon became engaged to Wesley. They married on May 13, 1977. Sharon was a renaissance woman with an indomitable spirit. Her many interests included music, dance, English literature, French language and history, math and science, culinary arts, Pilates, yoga, knitting, felting boutique purses. She worked for Xerox Corp. for 23 years, starting at an entry level position, then ascending through lower, middle and senior management in sales and marketing, serving as Sr. Vice-President then on to Director of Professional Services. In 2005, Sharon entered the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University where she served on the SMU Law Review as Lead Articles Editor and was in the top 10% of her class. More important than her many talents, career and academic accolades, Sharon was a woman of deep faith and spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ. Her life touched many people and she will be greatly missed. Sharon is survived by her husband of 37 years and 10 months, Wesley Beal. Brothers: Dr. John Hefner and wife, Shannon of Nazareth, PA and Bob Hefner, Jr. of Rosharon, TX. Brothers and Sister-in-laws: Reed and Judy Beal of Monmouth, IL, David and Dr. Rose Beal of Winona, MN., Mark and Connie Beal of Milpitas, CA.; Nieces and Nephews: Jordan Stewart of Whitehall, PA; Tyler Hefner of Nazareth, PA; Chris Hefner of Saint Johns, MI.; Stephen Beal (Godson)of Los Altos, CA, Rebekah Beal (Goddaughter) of Kernersville, N.C., Daniel Beal of Champaign, IL, Darren Beal of Sherman, IL, David Paul Beal of Westminster, MD and Nancy Beal Kaminski of Union Bridge MD.; Aunts and Uncles: Mary Lee Reed, Chicago, IL and Howard and Gwen Baker of Frankfort, IL.; many cousins and two pugs, Brunhilde II and Giselle. Sharon is pre-deceased by her parents: Dr. Robert Eugene Hefner and Betty Lou Guinn Hefner, and her beloved sister-in-law, Roxann Hefner. Friends may pay their respects in the chapel of Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home from 5:00pm 7:30pm Monday evening. There will be a vigil rosary at 7:30pm in the chapel. Funeral Mass will be at 9:30am Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at St. Rita Catholic Church (Harvest Hill @ Inwood Rd.) with Rev. Msgr. Robert M. Coerver, Celebrant. Interment is to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Published in Dallas Morning News from Mar. 28 to Mar. 29, 2015