Sharon Kay (Johnson) Treadwell passed away July 14 at age 69 after a brief and courageous battle with breast cancer metastasis after 22 years in remission. She will be remembered fondly for her friendly smile, boundless energy and strong sense of identity. Born September 20, 1946, in Castle Rock, WA, to Hap and Della Johnson, Sharon was raised in the logging industry. She attended schools in Morton and Castle Rock, and graduated from Forks High School in 1964. She spent much of her childhood travelling throughout the U.S. and Canada with her family to logging shows in which her father, "King of the High Climbers,GÇ¥ competed. In 1966, Sharon married James (Jim) Brink of Forks, WA, and had two sons, Brad in 1967 and Bryan in 1968. Sharon was widowed at 22 years old, with sons ages 1 and 2, when Jim died tragically in a logging truck accident. She met Mike Treadwell of Eatonville, WA, in 1970 and the couple married on May 26, 1972. Daughter Lisa was born in 1974. Sharon and Mike raised their family in Olympia, WA, and lived 43 years in the same home. The couple enjoyed traveling, gardening and making their home beautiful. Sharon worked for the State of Washington for 20 years, and retired as a technical writer. But her passion was always antiquing, and in 2006 she and Mike opened Wisteria Cottage at their home selling antiques curated by Sharon, and rustic woodworking items made by Mike. She loved the business and it quickly grew to have a large following of shop goers from all over the northwest. She and Mike enjoyed travelling the U.S. finding unique items for their shop, and Sharon was passionate about her vision for her shop and her customers. Sharon treasured spending time with her grandchildren, and enjoyed taking them to the park, to the Children's Museum in Olympia, and spectating at their various activities. In 1994, Sharon was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery and chemotherapy, and later participated in a breast cancer vaccine research program with Dr. Georg Springer at Chicago Medical School. Sharon participated for 10 years until the program was discontinued, traveling back to Chicago several times a year because the medicine could not be administered out of state. Sharon is survived by husband, Mike Treadwell, sons Brad Brink and Bryan Brink (partner Cathy Carlone), daughter Lisa Lawrence (husband Josh), and five grandchildren: Morgan O'Connell (Brink), Connor Brink, Addison Lawrence, Ava Lawrence and Kellen Lawrence. Also, she is survived by mother Della Mae (Mets) Johnson, and siblings Judy Dudonsky (husband Dick) and Gary Johnson (wife Karen). She is preceded in death by her father Hap Johnson, and first husband James Brink. The family is hosting an open house at their home in Olympia on Sept. 3, 12-4pm, in celebration of her life. For more information, email lisa@gardvintners.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Sharon's memory to Providence Hospice, providence.org/giving.
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