Sharon Rose Eppler was born to Howard and Virginia Eppler on May 11, 1957 in Manila, Philippines, the youngest of three children. She spent her childhood between Manila, Kansas City, and Lincoln, Nebraska. In elementary school she met a boy who would later become her husband, Douglas David Hefft. They re-connected during college days—they hadn't forgotten each other—and sparks began to fly. The romance was a bit tricky at first, but eventually Doug worked up the courage to propose to her, and they were married on December 27, 1976.

The two prepared for missionary work with New Tribes Mission, and welcomed two children into the word, Paul Douglas in 1978 and Katherine Elizabeth in 1980. Sharon then served alongside her husband in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela. In 2004, they relocated to McNeal to care for Sharon's aging parents and for Doug to run the parts department at New Tribes Aviation (now Ethnos360 Aviation).

Toward the end of caring for her parents, Sharon followed a childhood dream and entered nursing school. She graduated in 2013, received her RN, and worked as a nurse until the time of her cancer diagnosis.

Sharon leaves behind her beloved husband Doug Hefft; her two children, Paul and Katie; as well as six grandchildren: Josiah, Anna, Noel, Emmanuel, Juniper, and December. She also leaves her brother, Darrel (Cheryl) Eppler and sister, Candace (Vernon) Wilson. What a celebration in Heaven as she joined her Savior and her parents, Howard and Virginia Eppler, in Glory.

A Celebration of Sharon's Life will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at Ethnos360 Aviation in McNeal, Arizona.