OBITUARY: Martha Sharon Fjerstad, 69, of Sunrise Beach dies Sept. 28, 2013

Martha Sharon Fjerstad, 69, of Sunrise Beach passed away Sept. 28, 2013. She was born to the Rev. H.B. and Dorothy (Dale) Watson in Columbia, S.C., on Aug. 17, 1944.

While growing up as a preacher’s kid, she and her family served parishes in South Carolina; Virginia; Brunswick, Ga.; and Miles, Texas, where she graduated from Miles High School in 1963. The preacher’s kid’s training prepared her for her future life of being married to a dentist in the Navy.

She married James H. Fjerstad in San Angelo, Texas, in 1964. Within a few weeks, they began their 28 years of traveling with the Navy to places including Taiwan; Corpus Christi; Japan, where son Scott was born in 1970; the Great Lakes; Illinois, where son Todd was born; Virginia Beach, Va.; Arlington, Texas; Hawaii; and back to Corpus Christi in 1984.

During these different tours of duty, Sharon learned and honed her skills in volunteering and working for service organizations on many boards, including the Navy Relief Fund and the Dental Wives Club, for which she served as chairman. She volunteered 500-600 hours in many of these different groups. She was frequent visitor and a constant supporter of the Federated Church in Sunrise Beach, where she sang in the choir.

Following her divorce after 33 years of being married to the father of her children and the Navy, she retreated/retired to Sunrise Beach, Texas. There, her organizational and volunteering skills were put to use in her new neighborhood. She enjoyed being the person to go to for many different types of creating and organizing. She loved fixing things, working with her hands to create and alter many people’s beautiful possessions, as well as decorate many different places. She had multiple hobbies and craft endeavors.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Todd James and Danette Fjerstad of San Antonio; grandchildren, Myla and Thomas Rudd; sister, Judith Riney of Spicewood; her most significant other, Jerry Mark, who had been her most constant supporter during her last three years of battling the challenging disease of ALS; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents and son Scott Harold Fjerstad.

Contributions may be made in her memory to the Federated Church, 117 Lakeshore Drive, Sunrise Beach, TX 78643.

A celebration of her life is 2 p.m. Oct. 5 at Putnam Funeral Home, 145 Texas Ave. in Kingsland, (325) 388-0008, with the Rev. Johnny White officiating.

Go to www.putnamcares.com to sign a guest register.