Sharon Stoops

Sharon Rule Stoops of Little Rock, AR passed away January 12, 2023. She was born January 30, 1943 in Weston, WV and was preceded in death by her parents, Alva W. Rule and Dorothy Walker Rule of Bridgeport, WV and sister, Colleen Rule Douglas. She is survived by her husband, Gary L. Stoops, of Little Rock; daughters Michelle S. Carney and husband, Allen Carney of Little Rock and Dr. Monica A. Stoops of Omaha, NE and husband, Chris DeChant; grandsons, Jack Carney of Washington, DC and Logan Carney of Little Rock; niece Beth Douglas White and husband, Brian White and great nieces Emily and Sarah White; nephew Craig Douglas all of Frederick, MD.

Sharon graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University’s second Nursing School class and was a member of the nursing honor society. She was married shortly after graduation. She taught for the hospital nursing school in Williamsport, PA and for her Alma Mater in Morgantown, WV. She was the nursing supervisor for the United Mine Workers outpatient clinics in Fairmont, Farmington and Mannington, WV, and she and her husband were house parents for her Delta Gamma sorority. She worked as an Emergency Room nurse for the hospital in Plattsburgh, NY and an Advice Nurse for a group of six board-certified pediatricians in Springfield, VA.

When Sharon was nursing supervisor for the United Mine Workers Union she and her staff provided around-the-clock nursing support for over a week to the survivors of the mining explosion at the Farmington, WV mine site on November 20, 1968 which resulted in 78 miners killed in the accident. This mining disaster served as a catalyst for a series of landmark mine safety laws that were passed to protect miners.

Her husband, Gary, referred to her as the “surrogate mother” for the mothers of Springfield, VA because of all the calls Sharon received from them asking for advice after she left her position as Advice Nurse for the pediatric group when she and Gary moved to Las Vegas, NV. This poem written by a mother in Springfield, VA who used the pediatric practice best expresses how Sharon’s Advice Nurse skills impacted her patients: “Sharon gracious and kind, She never said I don’t have time.  Meticulous and sweet, soon she’d have you and the kids back on your feet. When your best try wasn’t fairin, the kids would say Call Miss Sharon.  I guess what I’m trying to say, We’re going to miss her in the biggest way. For no matter where God may send her, She will always seem like a family member.”

After having children, Sharon decided to be a stay-at-home mother and to support her husband and soulmate in his career rather than pursue a full-time nursing career. Sharon was an avid book reader and shared her love of reading with her children and grandchildren, and by forming book clubs when she lived in Morgantown, WV and Little Rock.

She was immensely proud of her daughters and their husbands and her grandsons on the many accomplishments they achieved. Despite all the medical issues she had to address over the past 25 years, Sharon fought the good fight to witness the successes of her daughters and son-in-laws and grandsons and received their unconditional love and affection.  These were just part of the many memorable moments that occurred during her lifetime.

A memorial service in celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Those wanting to make a memorial donation in her honor may contribute to the American Parkinsons Disease Association or the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research.

Arrangements by Arkansas Cremation, 10515 W Markham St, Ste B1, Little Rock, AR 72205. If you would like to leave a message of condolence to the family, you may do so using the "Tribute Wall" tab.

www.arkansascremation.com

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