Sharyn Lee Olsen died on Jan. 7, 2013.
Sharyn was born May 27 in Seattle, Wash., the daughter of Sam and Miriam Crevin. She had wonderful relationships with her grandparents Max and Nura LeBid, and her Uncle Sam and Aunt Harriet, and her Aunt Lillian and Uncle Jimmy Winters.
As a child she took riding lessons every Saturday, and she asked her father for a horse. He told her that if she was still interested when she was 13, he would get her one. She counted down the years, and when she turned 13, he bought Lindy, her first horse.
After she graduated from Garfield High School in Seattle, she moved to Palo Alto, Calif., to attend Stanford University, graduating with her degree in history.
She met her first husband, Jack Chilcote, in Berkeley, Calif., and they had three children together, Kristi, John and Martin. They lived in Berkeley until his death in 1970.
In 1971 she met Bruce Olsen of Walnut Creek, Calif., and they married and moved to Wendell, Idaho, in 1972. The next year they had twin boys, Gregg and Grant. The family stayed in Wendell until 1985 when they moved to Twin Falls.
Throughout these years she taught English riding and jumping to students, both privately and through schools. She judged horse shows, as well as riding in competitions. She worked with Leif and Norma Olsen to pasture their retired Thoroughbred race horses, some of whom stayed with her until the end.
She also gave back to the community in so many ways, including volunteering for years with the Salvation Army, receiving The Others award in 2003.
Beyond all of this, she loved so many things. She took up the sport of golf late in life, she loved her Saab cars, watching her children and grandchildren play sports as well as volunteering at their schools, watching the Utah Jazz and the Oakland Raiders, and always having her pets around.
Surviving Sharyn are her daughter, Kristi (Irenea) Chilcote of Fort White, Fla.; her sons, John Olsen (Michael Orringe) of Sydney, Australia, Martin (Jeni) Olsen of Napa, Calif., Grant Olsen of Boise, Idaho, and Gregg Olsen of Twin Falls, Idaho; and grandchildren, Levi Olsen, Payton Olsen, Max Olsen and Alexis Olsen.
Also surviving Sharyn is her brother, Larry (Nancy) Crevin of Orinda, Calif.; nephews, Dan (Denise) Crevin of Sacramento, Calif., and Matt Crevin of Seattle, Wash.; and her beloved dogs, Tootsie and Emma, her cat, Bob, and her horse, Cat.
A service will be held Saturday, Jan. 12, at 10 a.m. at Canyon Crest in Twin Falls, Idaho, and all are welcome to come share their memories and gratitude.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer you give a donation to Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise, Idaho, in Sharyn's name. Those wishing to share memories and condolences may do so at www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com.
