Sharon Rives, 84, of Elk Rapids, Michigan, passed away on Monday July, 28 at 3:00 am. She passed of natural causes in her home, attended to by her family.

Born August 30, 1940 in Flint, to parents Robert and Eleanor (Turfus) LaRue, Sharon was a single child and spent much of her early years growing up in Lake Ann, living with her parents and grandparents. In her later childhood, she and her parents resided in Elk Rapids, where she would graduate from the Elk Rapids High School in 1958, and where she met her husband of 65 years, Jerald Rives (Jerry).

Shortly after marrying, the two would make their way to Grand Rapids, Michigan where they had their first of three children, Deborah. The family then spent a short time in the Elk Rapids area and had their second child, Jerald Jr (Curt), before making their way to Detroit. Jerry and Sharon eventually found their way back to Elk Rapids and their third child, Scott, was born a few years later.

Jerry went to work for his father's company, Elk Lake Tool, while Sharon worked at Berke-Flexo Lure until the couple purchased Elk Lake Tool from Jerry's parents. Sharon helped run the company until their retirement in 2019.

Sharon brought her bright, uplifting, fun, often silly, and approachable personality to both her work and home life. She was loved and appreciated by the Elk Lake Tool employees, and was the bedrock, leader, and head cheerleader to her family that she loved with all of her heart. She loved traveling and playing cards with family and friends, and spending time with her beloved "'58 girls", and those who joined their gang later in life.

Sharon is survived by her loving husband, Jerry Rives of Elk Rapids, her children, Deborah (Rives) Tate of Williamsburg, Curt and his wife Holly (Billington) Rives of Williamsburg, Scott Rives of Traverse City, her grandchildren, Colin Tate of Williamsburg, Bryan Tate and his wife Tara (Colby), their two children, Zoey and Sydney Tate of Traverse City, Mariah (Rives) Kaufman and her son, Carter of Thompsonville, and Jerald Rives III (J.C.) of Duluth, Minnesota.

Sharon is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Eleanor (Turfus) LaRue of Elk Rapids, and her grandparents William and Hazel LaRue of Lake Ann, and Howard and Nelly Turfus of Elk Rapids.

Services will be held Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 11 AM at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Covell-Elk Rapids Chapel.  Visitation is Monday, August 4, 2025, from 6-8 PM from the funeral home.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Covell-Elk Rapids Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

www.beaconfh.com