Sharon Kay Harris (Ketchum)

It is with much love that we mourn the passing of Sharon “Kay” Harris (Ketchum), of Independence, Mo, on August 6, 2025, at the age of 80. Kay was born on September 10, 1944, in Kansas City, Mo. to Floyd and Helen (Walthall) Ketchum. She was raised in a loving home along with her sister, Sue. Kay was always very outgoing and was a part of several clubs and teams growing up. Her favorite was her spot on the high school cheerleading squad. She later took that enthusiasm and attended square dances on the weekends in her early 20’s.

After high school, Kay started her financial career at the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City, Mo, before moving to El Dorado Springs, Mo, where she was a bank teller, while she raised her son, Dustin. But Kay’s favorite title did not come until 1992, when she became “Grandma”.

Kay had a love for shoes. She had a favorite little mom and pop shoe store that she would visit when she went and visited her mother in Windsor, MO. She always kept her shoes in their boxes and wiped them down after she wore them. She loved sharing her love for shoes with her daughter in law and granddaughter, often taking them shoe shopping just because. She is to blame for the number of shoes they have today. She always said that good shoes mattered.

She had been a little spoiled when she was younger, as all her clothes had been handmade, including her square-dancing dresses. Therefore, she had a sense of style that was second to none and everything always matched. She did not learn to sew, but she could shop. When she bought for the grandkids, everything had a purpose. If she bought them a pair of shorts, she would buy them a shirt and put it in their closets as an outfit, especially when they were little. She helped make sure they were always the best dressed. Two words that best describe Kay is stylish and selfless. 

Her grandchildren were the light of her life. She attended every event they ever had, from sporting events, academic achievements, to personal milestones. If everyone woke up on Christmas morning at 3 am to open presents, she was right there with them. She missed nothing. She taught them all how to drive, made sure there were always bagel bites and pizza rolls in the freezer, and spoiled them all, by doing their laundry (for way to long) until she started “shrinking” it. She had a terrible sweet tooth so you could always count on there being plenty of sweet treats in the panty and she never went anywhere without her big ole jug of sweet tea. You could always count on Grandma being in the bathroom by 4 am

every morning, even after she retired. She had a hair and makeup regimen that she did every day, and she didn’t want to be in the way as the day was starting for everyone else in the house. So, everyone learned early on, that if they needed her to wake them up early, or switch over some laundry, or had any other request, they would leave a note on the bathroom mirror for her to get it first thing. Because getting up at 4 am meant she went to bed well before everyone else.

She is survived in death by her son, Dustin (location unknown); her daughter in law, Tymisha Francis of Independence, Mo; Her 4 grandchildren, Dustin “Luke” Francis of Blue Springs, Mo; Cassandra Francis of Independence, MO; Tyler (Courtney) Francis of Independence, MO; and Lane Francis (Jamillet Marquez) of Grandview, MO. Her great grandchildren; Bradley, Oakleigh, Beau, Amelia, Beckham, and Oliver.

She was preceded in death by both of her mom and dad. The family will be having a celebration of life on September 13, 2025, from 2 pm – 5 pm in an open house manner. It will be located as 15512 E 3rd Terr S, Independence, MO 64050.