Sharon Kay (Moothart) Merz, age 75, of Washington, Iowa, died Sunday, January 11, 2015, at the Washington County Hospital following a sudden illness.

Celebration of life services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Washington with Pastor Jim Stiles officiating. Calling hours will begin 12:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00. Interment will take place at Elm Grove Cemetery. Memorials have been established for the Washington Public Library or the United Methodist Church.

Sharon was born August 12, 1939, in Washington, Iowa, the daughter of G.F. "Jug" and Helen (McKean) Moothart. She graduated from Washington High School and attended Iowa State Teachers College for two years. Sharon graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. Degree in Elementary Education and a M.A. Degree in Curriculum. She was married to Ronald Merz in 1960. They later divorced.

Sharon was employed by the Washington Community School District where she taught second grade and the Talented and Gifted program for 32 years retiring in 2001. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, and Chapter DL of T.T.T. Sharon enjoyed reading, quilting, card-marking, spending time with her friends and traveling.

She is survived by her son, Gregory Merz and wife Charlene of Minneapolis, Minnesota; son, Christopher Merz of Cedar Falls, Iowa; five grandchildren, Travis Bloomquist, Molly Merz, Graham Merz, Benjamin Merz and Matthew Merz; five great-grandchildren; sister, Marsha Jarrard and husband Don of Charles City, Iowa; brother-in-law, Tom Hansen of LeClaire, Iowa; one niece and three nephews.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Rita Hansen.