Sharon McLean, 78, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on September 26, 2024. After a courageous battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), she is now reunited with her parents, Gladys Elizabeth and Donald Lee Robb, Sr., and her siblings, Donald Robb, Jr. and Diane Robb Wallace.
Sharon was born on January 18, 1946, in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is survived by her beloved husband of over 56 years, James E. (Jim) McLean; her children, Elizabeth (Libby) McLean Aragon of Plano, Texas, and Mark McLean of Raleigh, North Carolina; her son-in-law, Ryan Aragon; her daughter-in-law, Tiffany Ferguson McLean; and her cherished grandchildren, Dylan Elliott and Ben Aragon, along with numerous nephews and nieces.
Sharon’s educational journey began in Cincinnati and continued in Cocoa Beach and Orlando, Florida, where she graduated from Boone High School. She attended Orlando Junior College (OJC) and later the University of Florida, graduating cum laude in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Technology. It was during her time at OJC that she met Jim, and they married shortly after her graduation.
Sharon dedicated nearly 33 years to the Veterans Administration Medical Center, starting in Gainesville, Florida, and later transferring to the Tuscaloosa facility before her retirement in 2001.
But her work did not stop there. After moving to Johnson City, Tennessee for a few years and dedicating her time to volunteering at the James H. Quillen VA Clothing Closet, Jim and Sharon returned to Tuscaloosa. She continued to volunteer at various organizations, including the VA Medical Center, St. Francis Catholic Church, and her favorite, Catholic Social Services of West Alabama, reflecting her commitment to service, faith, and community.
Throughout her life, Sharon enjoyed hiking, shopping, RV traveling, riding on the back of Jim’s motorcycle, recycling, practicing yoga, contributing as an active member of St. Francis Parish, and most importantly, spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Her family and friends will miss her many thoughtful gestures, from the heartfelt cards she sent for every occasion to the perfectly curated comic strips she selected to brighten our days. Her passion for outfitting everyone in Alabama attire reflected her genuine kindness and unwavering commitment to the Crimson Tide. Her well-executed placement of emojis and memes reflected her loving sense of humor. Lastly, her dedication to feeding the neighborhood wildlife demonstrated her love for all creatures, not just the human kind.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Amedysis Hospice, Dr. Nan Jiang, Nurse Practioner Mia Davis, ALS Association of Alabama, Janice Jackson, Sharon’s many friends, and the members of St. Francis Parish for the kindness, support and loving care shown to Sharon during her battle with ALS.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date at St. Francis of Assisi University Parish, 811 5th Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. Norwood-Wyatt Chapel will be directing the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Social Services of West Alabama, 608 James I. Harrison Parkway East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405.
Please join us in celebrating Sharon by watching this remembrance video of her life: https://youtu.be/YBJvVwJyDaw
