Sharon K. (Lesh) Bailey, 83, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of deep love, quiet strength, creativity, and devotion to her family.

Born as fifth of seven children to Alton and Mildred Lesh, Sharon grew up surrounded by a large, close-knit family that instilled in her lifelong values of warmth, care, and connection.

Sharon met the love of her life, David Bailey, while they attended Lafayette Central High School. The high school sweethearts were united in marriage on July 28, 1962. Together, they shared an extraordinary 63 years of marriage, building a life rooted in unwavering companionship until Dave’s passing this past July 4th.

Sharon’s greatest title in life was Grandma. She spent time with each of her grandchildren independently and would shower them with her love and attention. She was very proud of the accomplishments of each of her grandchildren.

Professionally, Sharon worked as an administrative assistant in an insurance office, among various other roles where she consistently applied her exceptional organizational and customer service skills. During her retirement, she dedicated her time to serving her church by providing childcare during programs.

A crafter extraordinaire, Sharon’s artistic touch brought beauty and joy to everything around her. From sewing intricate costumes, curtains, and wedding bows, to collaborating with Dave on creative classroom projects for her daughter’s students, Sharon poured her heart into her work. In the kitchen, she was a passionate baker, famous for her ham salad and her signature habit of tweaking every recipe she encountered to make it her own. Above all, Sharon was a natural caregiver who quietly ensured that everyone she loved had everything they needed.dug

She also loved to bake and poured her heart into making cherished memories with her family. She was infamous for her ham salad and tweaking any recipe she came across.

Sharon was also a devoted care giver. She always ensured that those she loved had everything they needed.

Sharon is survived by her loving children: Doug (Gina) Bailey and Shari (Michael Traficanti) Cook; her siblings, Tom Lesh and Nancy Perry; her cherished grandchildren: Kaitlyn (Chance) Antinnucci, Brady Cook, Gabrielle (John) Bailey Hinely, Hanna (Tanner) Gehring, Lyndsay Bailey, Delaney Bailey, and Jake Cook; as well as her four adored great-granddaughters: Emilia, Gianna, Daniella, and Elliana, who brought her endless smiles.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests for donations to be made to the Dr. Fen-Lei Chang Professorship fund at IU School of Medicine-Fort Wayne. Dr. Fen-Lei Chang’s guidance and compassionate care provided clarity and comfort during both Dave and Sharon's dementia diagnoses."

Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026, at Covington Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 8408 Covington Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46804. The funeral service will follow at 12:00 p.m. Sharon will be laid to rest next to Dave at a later date at Covington Memorial Gardens.