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Sharon Marie (Sawhill) Longest, 55

Sharon Marie (Sawhill) Longest, 55, passed away on Tuesday, May 9, 2006, in Weiser, Idaho.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, 2006, at First Lutheran Church in Sandpoint, with Pastor Dave Olson officiating.

Sharon was born Feb. 17, 1951, in Sandpoint, the daughter of Robert and Aleatha Sawhill. She graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1969. She attended Kinman Business University in Spokane.

She moved to Powers Lake, N.D., where she met and married Lyle Enockson on Aug. 8, 1970, at Powers Lake Lutheran Church. Sharon and Lyle lived many places and eventually settled in Alberton, Mont., with their five children. They divorced after 20 years of marriage.

In order to better support her family, Sharon enrolled in nurses' training in Missoula and Great Falls, Mont., and graduated with a nursing degree. She began working at an elderly care home in Missoula.

Several years later she met and married Rod Longest. They moved to Alaska, and after touring the state, settled in the little town of Tok, where Rod set up an auto mechanic shop.

Sharon could no longer practice nursing, as there were no medical facilities in Tok, so she did the bookkeeping for Rod's shop, as well as janitorial work, serving as an emergency medical technician, and helping to start and manage a Boys and Girls Club.

She enrolled in the university and earned her degree in elementary education, but due to the diagnosis of cancer, was unable to pursue this new career. After living nine years in Alaska they moved to Weiser, Idaho, so Sharon could receive better medical treatment. She worked in home health until the time of her death.

Sharon is survived by her husband, Rod; five children, Dale Enockson, Mark Enockson, and Brenda Enockson, all of Springfield, Ore., Kristie Enockson of Weiser, and Greg (Jan) Enockson of Lolo, Mont.; three grandchildren, Harold, Ashley and Kaden; her parents, Bob and Aleatha Sawhill of Sandpoint; two sisters, Carolyn (John) Cotton of Rupert, Idaho, and Janet Sawhill of Sandpoint; two brothers, Stan (Gloria) Sawhill of Spokane, Wash., and Larry (Lowela) Sawhill of Sandpoint; and several nieces and nephews.

Sharon never missed an opportunity to come back home to pick huckleberries. She also enjoyed her enormous garden each summer. Her church, the Weiser Worship Center, was very important to her, as were the many friends she made there.