Sharon Eloise (O'Bray) Gorner

Sharon Eloise (O'Bray) Gorner of Raymond, AB, beloved wife of Stuart Gorner of 53 years, passed away on November 10, 2025 at the age of 78.

She was born to Joseph Allen O'Bray and Elsie Anna Elisabeth Holm on April 22, 1947 in Cranbrook, BC.

Sharon will be forever loved and remembered by her children Jay Gorner of Lethbridge, AB; Ethan Gorner (Rebecca) of Raymond, AB; David Gorner (Angela) of Calgary, AB; Chad Gorner (Christina) of Stirling, AB; Alida Evanson (Steve) of Stirling, AB; and Shannon Loitz (Chris) of Ponoka, AB; and by her fifteen grandchildren who were the joy of her life.

Sharon was predeceased by her twin daughters, Lindsay and Liisa, her parents Joseph and Elsie O'Bray, and her brother and sister-in-law David and Donna O'Bray.

Sharon is survived by her husband Stuart, sisters Laurel Jolie (Cyril), Arlene Barrie (Len) and Lynn Gulmick.

Sharon spent her first few years as a child in Bull River and Wardner, BC after which her family moved to Kimberley, BC where she spent the remainder of her childhood. One of her most favourite and beloved pastimes was softball, which she enjoyed with her sister Arlene and excelled at it. After graduation, she worked in banking in Kimberley for a short time before moving to Calgary where she took a business course and worked for Alberta Tel. While in Calgary, Sharon enjoyed living with her older sister and then her brother where she developed a close relationship with her nieces and nephews.

Later, Sharon returned to Kimberley to resume her work in banking. On the invitation of a friend she moved to Vancouver where she continued in banking and made many life long friends.

A year later, in 1971 her friend Joan Sandberg invited her to come and visit in Penticton, BC. While there, she was invited out on a blind date with one of Joan and her husband's friends, Stuart. As the story goes, the rest is history, as this blind date soon blossomed into a romance when Stuart and Sharon were married on her birthday, April 22, 1972 in the Cardston, AB temple for time and all eternity.

Sharon was very involved in her children's lives. She loved throwing them big birthday parties and all her children fondly remember the very special birthday cakes that Sharon personally created and baked for them. She loved Christmas and was the Santa Clause of the Gorner household, much to the children's delight as her hubby was not so inclined. Her children also remember her special secret lunches with them. She was a gifted sewer and crafter and even sewed her own wedding dress, as well as her eldest daughter’s. She also made many of the children's clothes, and always made the children’s Halloween costumes no matter how hard the pattern was. She enjoyed making items for craft shows which she was able to make extra money for the family. Her dolls were really special and memorable and her daughter’s still have the dolls that she made for them. Sharon was also involved in scouting, volleyball, softball and various positions within the Relief Society, the women's organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sharon embraced the church early and was baptized at eight years old, as her father was a member and she was raised in the faith. Sharon stayed true to her beliefs all of her life and was a wonderful example of a Christian woman.

She was a devoted wife and supported her husband in all they undertook, which included many callings within the Church, job changes, and moves: Penticton to Lethbridge to Cranbrook to Penticton to Nanaimo to Cranbrook to Penticton and finally settling in Raymond, to be closer to all of their children who ended up in Alberta. This move brought much peace and happiness to them both, now being so near to their children and grandchildren.

Sharon will be deeply and lovingly missed by her husband, and many family and friends.

God be with you dear Sharon, till we meet again.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Raymond Stake Centre, 2 N 200 W, Raymond, Alberta. Friends may meet the family beginning at 12:00 p.m., with the service to follow at 1:00 p.m.

Live-stream will be available, and a link will appear below this obituary 15 minutes before service time.

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