Sharon Godfrey Blackburn

May 5, 1935 – Nov. 7, 2026

Sharon Godfrey Blackburn, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and  friend, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2026. Sharon spent her 91 years devoted to her family and to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Sharon was born early in the morning on Sunday, May 5, 1935, in Cowley. She was the third of five children born to Dick and Alda Godfrey. She was born in her grandparents’ small log home as her father and brother had smallpox at the time. 

Sharon loved growing up on the farm in Cowley, learning how to work hard and enjoy the  outdoors. She excelled in school, though she preferred playing outside. She started at Cowley High School in 1949 and quickly became involved in many extracurriculars including pep squad, FHA, student government and editing the student annual. She graduated in 1953 as  salutatorian. 

She met the love of her life, Ken Blackburn of Lovell, while she was still in high school. The two were married for time and eternity on August 6, 1952, in the Idaho Falls Temple.

Family, friendships, and faith were very important to Sharon. While Ken attended school and worked, Sharon worked tirelessly to help earn money and make anywhere they lived into a home. Sharon excelled at making a home. 

She had a gift for crafting things herself and using whatever she had on hand, but mostly she brought so much love into her home and was quick to make everyone feel welcome. She loved each of their three children and then happily welcomed their spouses and eventual grandchildren and great-grandchildren into her loving arms. 

Sharon was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she served faithfully in many callings, with many years in Relief Society presidencies. Sharon exemplified what it was to minister to others like the Savior. She enjoyed the area and the people, and she was always one of the first to offer service to those in need, including to many young men in the area who achieved their Eagle Scout rankings because of her help. 

Sharon loved photographing and exploring Big Horn County, Wyoming, for more than nine decades. She loved being surrounded by nature and found beauty everywhere — in flowers, animals and especially rocks. 

Although having lived many years in Laramie, Billings, Cheyenne, Casper and other locations, her favorite view was from Cowley — the Sand Hills to the south, Big Horn Mountains to the east, Pryor Mountains to the north and the Park mountains and Heart Mountain to the west. 

Sharon was preceded in death by her loving husband of 72 years, Ken, parents and siblings. We know there was a joyful family reunion for them. 

Sharon is survived by her three children, Debra (Scott), Denise (Steve) and Ken (Janeen); nine grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren, all who adored her. 

Funeral services will be held Friday, Nov. 13, at 10 a.m. at the Cowley LDS Chapel with a viewing beforehand at 9 a.m. Interment in the Cowley Cemetery will follow. The family expresses their thanks to the many friends, family, neighbors and caregivers who have helped Sharon, particularly in the last couple of years.