Sharon Faye Sapp

Sharon Faye Sapp (Balmes)

Sharon Faye Sapp, 88, of Sun City, Arizona passed away on October 7. 2025.

Sharon was the fifth of six children born to Roy and Arleen Balmes on December 9, 1936, in Phoenix, Arizona. Sharon grew up on the family ranch in Buckeye, Arizona and graduated from Buckeye Union High School in 1954.

Sharon worked at various jobs in Buckeye and Tempe, Arizona. Beginning as a restaurant server, then grocery store meat wrapper, then in the insurance department at Arizona Bank and finally at First Federal Savings and Loan in the foreclosure department. She retired in 1978 to spend more time with her family.

Grandma Sharon, as she was primarily known, loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren very much. She was famously known for the jam she lovingly made for all to enjoy. All her grandchildren and great grandchildren could count on individual cards for every birthday and holiday with two balloons and a sticker on the outside coordinating with the occasion. She adopted many “extra” children into the card sending list. She frequently showed up at her grandchildren’s houses with pizza, the newest cookie or sugar cereal, or another special treat. She thought about each child individually, giving something she thought they might really like; from small apple juice cans to plastic cups filled with their favorite candy. She thought about adults too. She brought jam to bankers, popcorn and M&Ms to neighbors, gave cards with a little cash to caretakers, wrapped candy dishes with little candies, and tied them with a ribbon for those who needed a little lift in life. Sharon was known for her kindness to all and left anyone she met feeling better.

Sharon was a great cook. The family favorites she cooked and shared will live on for several more generations. Dishes like sour cream enchiladas, tamales, noodles, stuffing, stew, potato salad and Aunt Georgia’s casserole were just a few of the favorites her family enjoyed and will continue to enjoy thanks to her creating and sharing her own family cookbook. This was another of the thoughtful gifts she painstakingly made and gave to each of her children and grandchildren.

Sharon was instrumental in organizing The Buckeye Class reunion. She kept track of her schoolmates and organized reunions from 1964 to 2019. She loved the Buckeye community and looked forward to the Old Settlers Reunion each year. She was also active on the Buckey Valley Old Timers page on Facebook until her health would no longer allow. She valued her friends and the people around her.

Sharon is survived by one daughter; Shawn Heaton of Glendale, Arizona, and two sons; Roy Sapp of Peoria, Arizona and Stan Sapp of Peoria, Arizona; 15 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; one sister; La Rae (John) Kieffer of Buckeye, Arizona; one brother, Dale Balmes of Sun City, Arizona, and two sisters-in-law; Willy Balmes of Buckeye, Arizona, and Jeri Balmes of Sun City, Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Robert (Bob) Sapp; son Bart Wells Sapp; brothers Hank Balmes and Don Balmes; and sisters Royleen (Chickie) Williams and Mary Val Case.

Visitation will be held at Menke’s Funeral Home in Sun City on Sunday, October 19th between 5:00-8:00 PM. Graveside services will be held on Monday, October 20th at 9 AM at the Louis B. Hazelton Memorial Park in Buckeye, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to your favorite charitable organization.