Sharry, A Brave Woman

I recently received a very thoughtful gift from a kind and generous new friend who I have yet to meet in person. She sent me a set of cards entitled “We Brave Women”. I know Shar would have loved these and I do as well! Sharry was very much a feminist and inspired me to own that title as well as we both worked toward social justice and equality for women. This set of cards highlights 60 courageous women throughout history with diverse backgrounds and historical significance. They are hand drawn with bios on the back.

Some of Shar’s faves would definitely be Mother Teresa, Frida Kahlo, Emily Dickinson, Jane Goodall (who we were lucky enough to see last year at the parliament of world religions) and Georgia O’keefe. Sharry was always looking toward influential female artists, writers, activists for her own inspiration. One card chooses to focus more generally on mothers. Sharry and I were incredibly blessed with kind, thoughtful, intelligent and loving moms that have continued their goodness to their grandson. Sharry would have been an amazing mom.

One specific thing about this gift immediately brought me to tears. My friend had used her artistic ability to make a brave woman card of Sharry! I LOVE it so so much. She also told me that she purposefully left the back blank so that I can fill in her bio and what made her brave! So that is what I have chosen to do in this post.

Sharry Buhanan-Decker

August 11, 1986 - June 16, 2016

Born: St George, Utah

Sharry lived a life of creativity, passion, love and goodness. She lived her life with her heart on her sleeve caring deeply for all living things especially the small, hurt and forgotten.
Sharry brought beauty to the Earth through her visual art, written words, music and presence.

She longed to be connected to nature and to “get back to the garden” which she did through hiking, camping and having a mindful poet’s eye.

Sharry was courageous in speaking up to power and fighting for the rights of all living things. She did this by participating in and leading protests, marches and strove to be an ongoing activist. She could only work in jobs that she found worthwhile for improving the state of others.

Sharry taught us all what really matters in life; experiences, relationships, art, life and to be involved in causes greater than yourself. The world is a better place thanks to Sharry Buhanan-Decker and other brave women like her. #LivelikeShar