Kathy Busby Jones


I often speak of mine and Sharon’s seasons of friendship from grade school, high school,, and periods of our adult life including being there every day of the last month of her life.  I can’t think of Sharon with Camp Fire girls being a big part of it.  Though some girls would leave the group and others joined, Sharon and I was always part of the group.  From grade school thru high school her Mother Frankye King and Betty Greaves led us through many experiences.  Leading us to become better individuals, field trips, camping trips, selling candy, enchilada and spaghetti fund raisers and even a cruise to the Bahamas.  Camp Fire girls was a memorable time for a lot of us.  I am sure Portales can thank Camp Fire girls for Sharon being the great Mayor she was.

 

——————————————————————————————————————————–

Gayla Huguley Brumfield

Around March 6th of 2010, I called the newly elected Mayor of Portales. Since I was the mayor of Clovis then I thought it was cool that we had two girl mayors in a male dominated political field. I congratulated her and invited her to lunch. I thought we could talk about our plans for our communities but after we met we didn’t talk much about that. We had too much fun. We connected from that moment on and we laughed and talked all through lunch. We graduated same year from high school ’71 her from Portales me from Clovis. Had some of the same friends, and both loved to laugh so from then on we were “sisters” or “soulmates” We worked hard and enjoyed our political things. But what we enjoyed more were concerts and traveling. In July 2013 Sharon was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. I told her I would be there for her and we started that journey. She faced it like a true warrior. We laughed our way and stayed positive all through the maze of chemo, stem cell transplants, hospital visits, all done with no complaints from my friend. We traveled even going on a Viking river cruise to France after her first stem cell transplant. We went to concerts,water meetings, DC, NY, Ca, and on and on. We did a lot of living in a few years. But tonight, my precious friend lost her battle. I had the honor of being with her through the end just like I told her I would be. As heartbreaking as it was, she is at peace and laughing at something funny with the angels. I love you Sharon. I will see you again!

Two years ago, my niece Chloe Williamson (in the middle) spent a few weeks with us doing research on a project she was writing that was set in our area. My sister/friend Tish McDaniel (who regretfully is not in this photo) loaded up the first two women mayors in eastern New Mexico, along with a dog in heat (another story for another day) and headed out to our place for lunch. Although the photo might argue otherwise, we really did exchange a little useful information, but we also laughed until our sides hurt…which is pretty much a good description of every visit I ever had with Sharon King, whether it was at her house, my house, the Mayor’s office, a restaurant, a hospital, a mortuary…you name it. Then add some Gayla Huguley Brumfield to the mix, and well, make sure you have tissues because you will laugh until you cry. So, yes, we did take a nice dignified portrait that day of my niece with two women leaders, but THIS is how I best remember that day and how I’ll best remember our friend Sharon. She was sassy and cynical, wise and witty, a comforter and a clown, and damn it all, I’m gonna miss her forever.  by Betty Williamson

I’m going to miss my best friend, my rock. The strongest most amazing lady I have ever known.. She fought this battle, never complained or asked why me. Her angel wings are more than earned. Shiela Hays

 

 

 

 

 

For 35 years we drifted in and out of each others lives.  Life stages, jobs, children, ailing parents would take us in different directions.  But then we would drift back in and it was like time stood still for our friendship, we would pick up right where we left off. laughing and talking.  Our “catch-up” lunches were legendary, just ask any waiter at Cattle Baron (they thought we would never leave) we could talk for hours!  In our younger days we would get cokes and ride around town in her blue cougar with Miss Piggie hanging out the window for hours.  Sharon was a lot of things to a lot of people but what she always was …….was fun!  When you live a BIg life, people miss you in a big way.  I know there was rejoicing in heaven and I am so happy for that – no more pain – no more suffering-   As for me I will miss her till we are once again going in the same direction and I know we will pick up right where we left off.  Quaylene

Tish McDaniel

Our family did not have a TV for long periods of time when I was small, and my only memory of when we did have one, was that the “news” was always on. We went to the Branscum’s house to watch the Wizard of Oz, the Williamson’s house to watch Disney, and the King’s house to watch “Lost in Space”. The King’s House was magical and always full of laughter and fun.

I remember three places of residence for the Kings: a trailer house, the house west of the high school, and the old farmhouse that Bo and Frankye remodeled into a castle. I was envious of the tin roof on the trailer and the sound of rain when spending the night with Sharon. I must have spent many nights just to be able to hear the rain. The house before “the big house” hosted an aluminum Christmas tree with a spinning colored wheel-such a departure from tradition. Roaming the neighborhood and tormenting the neighbors was nothing compared to the most important item: Sharon’s “make and bake” kitchen set. The big house had three Christmas trees: one for the first floor, a middle section for the second floor, and the topper was on the roof. Frankye and Bo were constantly playing practical jokes on Herkie and Sharon’s friends. The King’s house was special.

I remember three restaurants that Bo and Frankye either managed or operated with the last being “King’s Restaurant” which was festooned with swords, scepters, and crowns. Bo and Frankye let Sharon and me eat all we wanted, cook when we desired, bus tables, and manage the cash register poorly. We had a form of a club house in the small office-really a closet- filled with adding machines and lots of receipts. Sharon and I made major business decisions in that office. Behind the restaurant was a “big” manmade hill-probably 4 feet high, since the Kings had real skis, and it occasionally snowed, Sharon gave me my first skiing lesson.

As grade schoolers in Portales, we went to the roller skating rink on Fridays and the movies during the day on Saturdays (in junior high we went at night!). Sharon could skate backwards with a flair, while the rest of us were rather content in going round and round. Sharon and I went to the “horror” vignettes at the Tower one afternoon, and I remember running out with fear with Sharon being totally disgusted with my behavior. Sharon was always brave.
A group of us took ballet and tap from Sylvia Hall, a student at ENMU. We were all phenomenal dancers, but Sharon really could tap while the rest of us just flapped. Our dance costumes were Sylvia’s old ones, pulled out of an old truck and held together with safety pins—we were in our element.

Blue Birds, Camp Fire Girls, and Horizon Club were manned and organized by our mothers, Betty Greaves, Frankye King, and Biddie Mae Fenton. Camping with Frankye was a true experience as we cooked over the camp fire, told jokes, and sang silly songs. In late grade school, our Camp Fire Girls Club camped out at Jack County Lake (mothers in attendance-but barely) and slept in a Volkswagen Van. We had no idea how to play poker but play we did—strip poker. I’m darn sure Sharon made up the rules as we went. When we blurted out our escapades the next day, I’ll never forget one of the mothers stated “You will always be a lady if you keep your earrings on!”

Every Halloween, Frankye would dress up as a really wicked witch with a giant, hairy wart and appear with her boiling vat of who knows what, and scare the living daylights out of all of us—even Sharon, who usually was the brave one.
Sharon was such a combination of her mom and dad-the laugh, the wit, and the love of life. She shared this with all of us and will continue to as she will remain in our hearts and minds forever. Cheers.