Sharon Lee (Musgrove) Becker died peacefully, while surrounded by her family in Reno on July 23, 2018, at the age of 84. She’d had a relatively short battle with cancer. Sharon was born in Sacramento and grew up in Woodland, California where she graduated from Woodland High School in 1951. She received a B.A. in Elementary Education in 1955 from the University of California at Santa Barbara and was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority.
Sharon met her future husband William (Bill) Becker (from a pioneer Nevada family and owner of Reno (Pabco) Paint Mart) in 1957 while working for the Reno Recreation Department’s summer program at Wingfield Park. Sharon and Bill were married on November 22, 1958. She taught elementary school in California and Nevada until their oldest daughter was born. They raised their 3 children in Reno. Their 4 grandchildren are the 4th generation to graduate from Reno High School.
Sharon was an avid volunteer. She was a life member of Girl Scouts, initially as a young girl and later as an adult leader. She received the Thanks Badge in 1978, the highest Girl Scout adult honor awarded for her “commitment, leadership and service with an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the entire council or entire Girl Scout Movement.” Although her active participation in Girl Scouts for the last several decades was limited to cookie eating (she was one of their best customers), her heart continued to remain with the worthwhile scouting program.
In 1976, Sharon became a Charter and Life Member of the Assistance League of Reno-Sparks, a national non-profit philanthropic organization, and remained a very active member for over 40 years! She served on numerous committees and offices. One of her favorite tasks was working with the Senior Sampler, where community senior artisans can sell their handcrafted items to supplement their income. Sharon was definitely one of the best customers of the gift shop. She received the Ada Edward Laughlin Award in 1992 as the 1st local chapter recipient.
Her family and friends were her greatest joy and pleasure. She was affectionately known to her grandchildren as “Bee.” She wasn’t the type of bee that would sting, but one that would pollinate and encourage us each in our own paths. She particularly enjoyed watching her grandchildren mature and grow up.
She looked forward to hosting the annual Woodland High School Class of ’51 reunion of her closest girlfriends (the ‘Wolves’) at the family house at Lake Tahoe. They would laugh and play and reminisce about their youthful antics and create new fun filled memories. She was so fortunate to host them at her Reno home this year. Such incredible, long-lasting friendships!
Sharon had Nevada roots and her mother Evelyn (Fayhin) Musgrove was born and raised in Goldfield, Nevada. Her father was from Woodland, California, but her parents met at the University of Nevada, Reno. Although not a Nevadan by birth Sharon was one by choice and was overheard saying that she got to Nevada as soon as she could. For Christmas, she gave all the family members a CD with the song “Home Means Nevada!”
The family especially thanks Mary-Ann Brown, the Director of Palliative Care with Renown Health and a close personal family friend, for her kind and compassionate guidance during our mom’s final journey.
Sharon was preceded in death by her husband William Becker and parents Evelyn and Gilbert Musgrove. She is survived by her children: Brenda Becker and her husband Walter Machado of Honolulu, Hawaii; Betsy Miarecki and her husband Ron and their son Riley; and Bradley Becker and his wife Michelle and their children Jacob, Braeden, and Kayla; all of Reno. Also surviving are her nieces Laurie Snook of Columbus, Georgia; and Kim Becker, Deborah Peltz, and Bridget Jensen of Reno; and cousins Lynn Kevin Parfitt, Pam Russell, Debbie Russell, Jill Ripple, Monica Russell, Scott Russell, and Terri Russell.
If inclined, please consider memorial donations to any of the following: the William E. Becker Memorial Scholarship Fund, Reno High School, 395 Booth Street, Reno, NV 89509 (or contact the RHS bookkeeper at 333-5050); Assistance League of Reno-Sparks, P.O. Box 7376, Reno, NV 89510; or Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada, 605 Washington Street, Reno, NV 89503.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 10th from 11-2 at the Hidden Valley Country Club at 3575 E. Hidden Valley Drive, Reno. The family encourages stories and anecdotes be sent to the on-line Book of Memories at www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com.

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