Sharon Reavill

Sharon Reavill, 86, of rural Robinson, IL, passed away unexpectedly on February 7, 2025, leaving behind a life shaped by grace, grit, and an unstoppable rhythm that carried her through every season.

Born on October 26, 1938, in Phoenix, AZ, Sharon grew up surrounded by beauty. Her father's floral shop was a world of color and fragrance, and it was there that she learned the value of hard work and precision. But Sharon's true passion was always dance. From an early age, she lived for the stage, her movements as fluid and graceful as the desert breeze. A gifted ballerina, she earned a place at the New York School of Ballet, where she dreamed of pirouettes on the world's greatest stages. Life, however, had a different dance in mind.

Motherhood changed her choreography, and her life took a new direction. Trading pointe shoes for perseverance, Sharon eventually settled in Flat Rock, IL, near her grandparents. Determined to share her love of dance, she opened a studio in Robinson, where she inspired young dancers to embrace their own rhythm. But fate had another surprise in store—a man named Fred Reavill. Too nervous to ask her out himself, Fred sent his parents to play matchmakers. Sharon agreed, and their love story began with a first step that blossomed into a dance that lasted for 30 beautiful years.

In the next act of her life, Sharon became a rural mail carrier. Starting in the early 1970s, she delivered letters and packages across Flat Rock and Robinson for over 40 years. Her days were long and her routes relentless, but she approached them with the same dedication she once gave the barre. Later, when her hopes of becoming postmaster didn't materialize, Sharon became a union steward, fiercely advocating for her fellow postal carriers. For a time, she even took on a second job driving a forklift at the local cheese factory—whatever it took to support her family. Sharon was, after all, a woman of relentless work and drive, running the family's hog farm when she wasn't on the mail route. She didn't have time for sporting events or leisurely afternoons. Instead, she showed her love through action, pouring herself into the work that kept her family afloat.

Those who knew her best will tell you Sharon had a sharp wit and a quirky sense of humor. Known affectionately as "Crabby," a nickname gifted to her by her sons after an episode of The Little Rascals , she wore it proudly. The nickname fit—not because she was harsh, but because she was unapologetically herself. Her humor even followed her to the grave—literally. She had the words, "This is inconvenient," engraved on her and Fred's tombstone, capturing her unique perspective on life's challenges.

Though she lived a life full of responsibility and duty, Sharon never forgot her first love—dance. One of her most legendary performances came at her son Matt's wedding, where she and Fred stole the show on the dance floor. They moved together like old pros, outshining couples half their age and leaving everyone in awe. It was a reminder that, at her core, Sharon was always a dancer. After Fred's passing, she remodeled her home and built a dance studio. There, she returned to the joy of movement. Even in her 70s, she could still do the splits, proving that time could never truly slow her down.

In every step she took, Sharon danced to her own beat—whether in pointe shoes or work boots, on a dance floor or on the farm. As the curtain falls on Sharon's remarkable life, she leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire those who knew her.

Sharon married Frederick Warner "Fred" Reavill on February 29, 1964, and he preceded her in death on February 20, 1994. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Melburn & Rosemary (Donnely) Meyer; her brother, Michael Meyer; and her son, Thaddeus Reavill. She is survived by her sons, James Dulin "Dulie" & Gwen Reavill, Frederick Andrew & Andrena Reavill, and Matthew Dickson & Jane "Kitty" Reavill; and by her grandchildren: Paige Reavill, Ryan Reavill, Andrew Reavill, Natalie Reavill, Ben Reavill, Conner Reavill, Samantha Reavill, and Sarah Reavill.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 13th, at Jones Cemetery, rural Flat Rock, IL. Memorials may be made to the "Flat Rock American Legion", with envelopes available at the cemetery. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson is in charge of arrangements.