In Memoriam
Sharon Ann Appleman
July 24, 1943 ​- August 20, 2015
Dear Reader,
As the silent voice behind Sharon's website, this is the first time I've had to speak for Sharon instead of collaborating with her, and I feel unequal to the task. Even after 35 years of friendship our conversations, especially in this last year, often revealed hidden talents and different layers of experience. She had more levels of grit, wit and dedication than I knew she had, and I knew of many.
Sharon was as at home on horseback as she was hosting a diplomatic dinner, and worked as hard at inspiring her students as she did at the craft of writing. In fact, I have never known Sharon to do anything by half measures. She brought fierce dedication to her family, her friendships and her focus on the environment.
In Coyote Willows, every page is steeped in Sharon's love of the land where her life began. I'm sure she had more to share with us, and wish she'd had the time to do so. I know she would want us to continue investigating the hazards at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, and to insist on effective cleanup and containment.
It was my privilege to work with Sharon on the publication of Coyote Willows. It was my joy to be her friend, and to witness her gratitude to her family, her friends, her mentors, her writing and teaching colleagues and all who supported her in accomplishing this last task she set for herself. She was driven to leave a physical legacy in the hands of her family, Mary and Adam, John and Lynn, and her devoted husband Wayne. Coyote Willows is the realization of that effort.
---Elise Wright
August 30, 2015
