Sharon "Cheri" Lee Wolcott

Sharon Lee Wolcott (Smardo) was born in Hays, Kansas on January 14,1946 to Frederick Louis Smardo and Della Louise Smardo (Knop). Her early years were spent in Natoma and Plainville, Kansas. The family moved to Colorado Springs in the Summer of 1961. She graduated from Palmer High School in 1964.

After High School Cheri decided to pursue Beauty School. She graduated from Heavilin Beauty School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1966. She met the love of her life, Chris Wolcott in 1968. They dated for four years and married in February 20,1972. Born to this union were 3 children: Kimberly, Melissa and Matthew. Cheri was a great mother albeit, sometimes a tough cookie! The children have wonderful memories of taking family vacations, cooking together, gardening, and of course playing board games. Especially the annual Christmas “Catch Phrase” game that invoked tear jerking laughter. They also enjoyed trips up to the Iowa family reunions where Cheri’s relatives lived.

Cheri went back to teaching language arts in the Fall of 1991 and she thoroughly enjoyed it. She made a lasting impression on a lot of her students and lot of students made a lasting impression on her. After retiring from teaching and enjoying life for a while, Cheri began volunteering at Blessings Abound where she had fun and met a lot of new friends.

From a young age, Cheri showed signs of being an exceptional artist. In her early teens she painted Christ in Gethsemane with watercolors and continued painting the rest of her life. She had a sharp eye for home decorating and renovation. She engaged in numerous arts and crafts which included painting ceramics, upholstery, knitting and miniature boxes. She could repair almost anything from mending clothes, to patching sheet rock, rewiring lamps, painting cabinets, and walls. Chris called Cheri his “handyman” because she always said he couldn’t screw in a light bulb. She was meticulous in her projects.

Cheri was gifted with the art of gab. She could strike up a conversation with anyone. Her husband always said: “She can never say goodbye!” Sadly, we had to say our “goodbyes” too soon. The last couple days in the hospital we tried to reach out to as many people as possible and had several visitors come through. Before she closed her eyes that night she said, “This was a good day!”

Cheri entered eternal peace on March 15, 2026. She was predeceased by her husband, Christopher Wolcott, son, Matthew Wolcott, mother, Della Smardo, father, Fred Smardo, and sister, Kay Melewieski. She is survived by her daughters Kimberly Wolcott and Melissa Wolcott-Wind (Paul Wind), grandchildren, McKenna Wolcott and Austin Wind, sister Barbara Corder, brother Buzz Smardo (Holly), niece, Mindy Goy (Rhett), Lucie Wolcott (Mark Maguire) grandnieces Addy and Alexa Goy and grandnephew Gannon Goy, niece

Carissa Sherwood (Jared), nephews Craig Smardo (Alex), John and Peter Wolcott, brother-in-law Bill Melewski (Shelley). She also survived by several cousins and many friends.

Funeral Services will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church at 9101 Lamar Ave Overland Park, KS on March 27, 2026 with visitation at 10:00 am and the funeral service at 11 am. Burial to follow Mt. Olivet Cemetery 7601 Blue Ridge Blvd in Raytown, Missouri.

Cheri had a strong Christian faith. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in her name to Bethany Lutheran Church.

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