Sharon Rosalie (Voyles) Belcher, 71, of Mount Vernon, died at 8:29 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon.
She was born on Sept. 5, 1952, in Mount Vernon, to the late Halick and Aliene (Lovin) Voyles. She married David Belcher on June 5, 2005, in Mount Vernon and he survives in Mount Vernon.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Belcher is survived by three sisters, Cindy Hefner and husband Tom of Bonnie, LeAnn Voyles of Bluford and DeeDee and husband Claude of Salem; brother-in-law, Don Belcher of Normal, Illinois; niece, Amanda Adams of Mount Vernon, Illinois; nephew, Chris Davis of Summersville, Illinois; a dear friend, Peggy Davis of Mount Vernon, her pet dog and constant companion, Spunky; and several cousins.
Mrs. Belcher was a 1966 graduate of Belle Rive Grade School, a 1970 graduate of Mount Vernon Township High School, and a graduate with associate degrees in business and art from Rend Lake College and she attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She was a member of Belle Rive Missionary Baptist Church.
She was a talented artist with samples of her handiwork displayed all over the world. She was a juried artist with the Illinois State Museum Society Artisan Program; associated with the Independent Artists Studio, Mount Vernon; Fine Arts Direct, comprised of U.S. and Canadian artists and she had her own studio, Kanycma Art and Design Studio.
She was active in community affairs. She worked for the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce from 1974 to 1994, starting as a secretary, moving to office manager, and ending as assistant executive director.
She worked with chamber committees that became Downtown Development Corporation, Sweet Corn and Watermelon Festival, Southtown Development Corporation, and Jefferson County Crime Stoppers and became a member of their boards. She was on the chamber’s Hospitality Committee which evolved into the Tourism Bureau.. For several years, in addition to being very involved in Sweet Corn and Watermelon Festival, she handled the festival’s flea market.
She was the Downtown Retailers secretary for 15 years and organized annual dinners while finding time to work on festival parades and Santa’s House. This was all in addition to preparing a monthly chamber newsletter. She was on the Mount Vernon Park Board for several years.
A big change came in her life when after leaving the chamber she was First Baptist Church of Mount Vernon office secretary for 9 1/2 years. She organized First Baptist’s Family First Labor Day Gospel sing on Sept. 5, 2004. The man who eventually became her husband was covering the event and he was afraid he was bothering her while she was afraid she was bothering him. It could almost be considered their first date.
As with the chamber, if it had to be done – Sharon did it – invariably doing a great job mixed with good humor. She assisted visitors, and transients looking for help, prepared monthly newsletters, weekly bulletins and bulletin boards, and even sang in the church choir.
It is safe to say the concept of a 9-5, Monday-Friday job was foreign to her. Sharon has had to tackle some adversity and consistently met the test. She was the first woman in the Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club. Some of the male club members were not pleased. Once, she sat down by a male club member and he promptly moved to another seat. She went on to be active in such Kiwanis events as Pancake Days and Rend Lake Day where the club gave disabled people pontoon boat rides. Once the chamber fired the director on the eve of a circus coming to town. A big dispute came over the location. The site owner didn’t want the traveling circus people staying overnight on his property. Sharon worked pretty much 48 hours getting that situation resolved as well as carrying around thousands of dollars to pay the circus; getting some land cleared, etc. However, when it comes to adversity nothing compares to Jan. 9, 2020, when she had her left leg amputated below the knee due to a recurring sepsis infection. Incredibly, she never said “Why me?” or indulged in self-pity. She stoically accepted her fate. Her husband frequently said when she was in the hospital she was calm while he needed a Xanax. Due to health issues, she spent time in nursing homes. Instead of focusing on herself her goal was to make somebody else laugh at least once a day. To her credit, she generally succeeded. To the very end of her life, she demonstrated her trademark persistence and good nature. This anecdote may sum it up best.
When a friend of her husband’s learned he was engaged to Sharon, he asked, “You mean the Sharon Voyles who used to work for the chamber?” He was told yes. He thought for a few moments before saying, “She’s too good for you.” Her husband agreed wholeheartedly.
A Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 14, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Graveside Service will be held Monday, April 15, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Oakdale Cemetery in Bluford, Illinois with Pastor Alan Smith officiating. Interment will follow. Memorials may be made in Mrs. Belcher’s honor to the charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.hugheyfh.com.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
