Sharon Lynn Schuler, 49, died in Oak Harbor on Jan. 21, 2007, following an eight month battle with cancer. She was born August 7, 1957, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Sharon graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs in 1975. While in high school, she played violin in the school orchestra.

Following high school, Sharon enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was sent to boot camp in Florida. She sustained an injury at boot camp and was medically released from service. Sharon left Florida and moved to Oak Harbor. She worked for a time for Cody’s Restaurant and Cathay Palace as a bartender.

Sharon met Robert “Bob” Schuler in 1983 and they began dating. She and Bob were married in Oak Harbor on Aug. 3, 1985. Sharon enrolled at Skagit Valley College, Whidbey Branch and received her Associate’s Degree. She thought she wanted to be a child psychologist, so she found work at Catholic Community Services and also as an instructional assistant at the Oak Harbor School District. Both jobs involved working with children with special needs. She discovered she was not meant for this type of service and moved on.

She obtained her Realtor’s license and began working as an agent for Acorn Realty in 1985 and eventually moved into property management. She took her job seriously and made many new and lasting friendships. She went out of her way to assist clients and friends in need. When Acorn Realty moved to its new location as ERA, Sharon moved with them. In 2003, Sharon was injured at work and was forced to retire from real estate.

Sharon was diagnosed with cancer in June of 2006. She went through a myriad of tests and treatments, but lost her battle with cancer on Jan. 21, 2006, exactly 10 years to the day she lost her stepfather.

Sharon was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Oak Harbor, the National Association of Realtors, National Association of Property Managers and a former member of the Soroptomist Club of Oak Harbor.

Sharon was an avid reader. She collected teddy bears and music boxes. She loved her family, enjoyed working with people and made friends easily.

Sharon is survived by her husband Robert; two sons, Thomas and Christopher Schuler; her mother Patricia Ougheltree and one sister Sally Stoker, all of Oak Harbor; and also by sister, Susan Szumita of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and one brother Jeffrey Stoker of Mallard, Iowa. Her stepfather Robert Ougheltree preceded her in death.

Graveside services for Sharon Schuler will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at Maple Leaf Cemetery. Memorial services will follow at the First United Methodist Church of Oak Harbor with the Rev. David Lura officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.