Sharon LePage Reser, age 73, of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at the Kansas City Research Institute in Kansas City, Mo. from complications with Covid.
Sharon was born on July 16, 1947 in Jefferson City, Mo., the daughter of Monroe Conrad and Ida Elizabeth (Basinger) Mueller. A resident of the central Missouri area for the majority of her life, Sharon was a 1965 graduate of Jefferson City High School.
Sharon was married in 1965 to David D. LePage and to this marriage her two daughters were born. She later married Edward “Ed” Reser on January 16, 1996 in Breckenridge, Co. and he preceded her in death on October 28, 2015. For the past four years, Sharon has cherished the close relationship she had with Erwin “Sonny” Oetting, Jr. and loved him dearly.
She started her 37-year career in banking in Lexington, Mo in 1971 working at B&L Bank in their mortgage department for ten years. In 1982, Sharon moved back to Jefferson City and started working for Jefferson Bank where she began as a teller. Realizing quickly that she was a female without a college degree working in a dominant male industry at the time, she had to be smarter, stronger, and better than everyone else. From her strong work ethic and previous relationships in the residential mortgage industry, she was the first person to start residential lending at Jefferson Bank. She quickly had success and for the next 25 years put all her passion into building the residential loan department into something she considered extremely special. Sharon was a huge part of shattering the glass ceiling in Jefferson City. She had no problem being the boss, taking charge, and getting the job done. She will be remembered by almost everyone who worked with her as a ‘can do’ person. When Sharon asked for a favor, people would scramble to get it done. Not doing your job was not acceptable to Sharon. That, and wearing open toed shoes! She retired in 2009 as the Senior Vice President of Residential Lending. When she retired, she said “I will miss working with customers and helping them fulfill their dreams of owning a home.”
Because Sharon was so successful, she was a sought-after member on numbers of different boards in Jefferson City. Sharon had a strong desire to give back to the community that put a lot of trust in her and her team. She was a member of the Jefferson City Board of Realtors and was the recipient of the Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors Special Service Award (1986). Sharon served as affiliate representative, chair of the affiliate committee and as a board member with the Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors. She helped with the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce for many years where she was involved as an Ambassador, served as a Chamber Connections Greeter, and served on the Membership and Gala Committees. Sharon volunteered with the Jefferson City Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowl for Kid’s Sake, Special Olympics, the United Way, and served as a board member with the Jefferson City Public School Foundation (2016-2018). She contributed as treasurer to numerous candidates running for political office and helped run her children’s local school’s fundraisers. Tigerfest at Trinity Lutheran School was one of her favorites.
While Sharon was the ‘boss’ at work she certainly was a complete pushover (in the best way possible) to her family. Her girls, Cindy and Julie were number one topics out of her mouth until they had children. At that point Nana entered and what her grandkids wanted her grandkids received. There was not a person around that Sharon did not brag about her grandchildren to. Whatever her grandchildren loved became Nana’s newest favorite hobby from watching baseball, basketball, learning stats, going fishing, volleyball, soccer, discussing the stock market and dance recitals...Nana soon became the biggest fan of all of their activities. Not because she loved all those things, but because she loved them so very much.
One of her favorite times of year was Christmas. She loved watching everyone open presents and made each person go one at time and in order. As her family grew this became an almost all day affair. In her later years, Sharon and Sonny found a new Christmas enjoyment of randomly sharing a huge cash tip at a pre-selected restaurant or diner. They would spend time staking out the perfect place and person who would receive their yearly large tip after they enjoyed a meal together.
The last four years Sharon and Sonny have perfected the “Missouri triangle” traveling from Lexington, to the Lake Ozark and Jefferson City, spending 2-3 days at each place living out of suitcases and just being together. Over the last four years, Sharon, when at the Lake would ‘fish.’ She would tell anyone and everyone how much she loved it. Sharon’s version of fishing included a lot of doing on Sonny’s part. Sonny selected her favorite pole, baited the hook, and she would drop the line in her favorite hole that no one else was allowed to use. Once she caught the fish Sonny was responsible for the rest. It was truly the perfect relationship.
One of Sharon's favorite hobbies was to go gambling with her friends and daughters. Prior to the pandemic Sharon traveled to Vegas with her girls for mother/daughters trips. Before her girls were of gambling age she would travel with other family members to Vegas bringing back the best stories. At the time of this writing most are still unsure of the circumstances of a great aunt being left at an airport.
Sharon will be remembered for her good sense of humor, quick-wit, strong work ethic, and generous nature for those she loved. She was a true role model for her daughters as well as all women in the professional world with the values she showed as a woman in a male dominated business and the drive she possessed to succeed.
Survivors include: two daughters, Cindy Cook (husband, Brent) of Oklahoma City, Ok., and Julie Maassen (husband, Jeff) of Jefferson City, Mo; three sisters, Millie Baker (C. Gordon “Sonny” Price, Jr.) of Nc., Peggy Roemer of Jefferson City, Mo., and Nancy Mueller (wife, Lisa) of Canada; one brother, Todd Mueller (wife, Brenda) of Kansas City, Ks; five grandchildren, Holden Cook, Harper Cook, Annabelle Maassen, Tripp Maassen, and Quinn Maassen; and her significant other, Erwin “Sonny” Oetting, Jr. of Lexington, Mo.
Sharon was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands, Dave and Ed; and one sister, Bette Mueller.
Due to the pandemic, a private family service will be conducted Friday, March 12, 2021 in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Karen Taylor officiating. Graveside services and interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery.
A webcast of Sharon’s service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 12, 2021 for extended family and friends that are not able to attend by going by going to the "photos and videos" tab of this page and scrolling down to the webcasting link. Please remember to enable the sound by clicking the speaker. Friends are encouraged to mail a memory of Sharon to the funeral home or leave a condolence through her memorial page to be shared with family the day of the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Jefferson City Public Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 2152, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102; Special Learning Center, 1115 Fairgrounds Rd, Jefferson City, Mo. 65109; or Rape and Abuse Crisis Center (RACS), P.O. Box 416, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison Street, Jefferson City, Mo. 65101.