Sharon Durell Leon

Sharon Durell, 59, of Leon died Feb. 28, 2015, at Decatur County Hospital in Leon.

A memorial service was held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 7, at Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon. The Rev. Max Carmichael and the Rev. Darrin Baumfalk officiated. Burial will be in Leon Cemetery at a later time.

Sharon Lynn Durell, daughter of Barbara Ann (Ross) and James Daniel Durell, was born May 2, 1955, in Leon.

Sharon graduated from Central Decatur High School in 1973. She graduated from Graceland College in 1977, with a degree in social work.

Sharon started her working career as a file clerk in the Department of Human Services in Des Moines from 1977 to 1979. She then returned to Leon and was elected Decatur County recorder, serving four terms from 1979-1995. Then she worked at the Department of Human Services for Decatur County from 1995, until her death.

In 1993, Sharon adopted Jordan James at two years of age and in 2005, she adopted 18 month old Lucas James.

Sharon sang and played piano for church, taught piano lessons, and accompanied men’s quartets.

Sharon was a member of Faith Fellowship Church in Osceola.

Sharon is survived by her sons, Jordan and Tiffany Durell and Lucas Durell, all of Leon; grandchildren, Evan James and Mason Lee Durell; mother Barb Durell of Leon; brothers, Mike and Charletta Durell and Dan and Toni Durell, all of Leon; nieces and nephews, Marci and Nathan White, Daren and Megan Durell, Lindsey and Jeromey Jones, Ben Durell, Rachel and Jimmy Christofis and Nick Durell; great-nieces and -nephews; aunts and uncles, Pauline Baker of Corydon, Katherine Hughes of Leon, Shirley and Don Grimm of Ankeny, Peggy Corll of Leon, Everett and Rowena Ross of Fort Dodge and Wendell and Judy Ross of Colfax; and other relatives and friends.

Sharon was preceded in death by her grandparents; father on April 29, 2014; and aunts and uncles, Billy Leon Durell, at age three, Faye and Ray Perks, Earl and Helen Nussbaum, Marjorie and Richard Carson, Dick Baker and Marvin Corll.