Sharon Benham

Sharon "Kaye" Benham, 56, of Lorena, passed away on Friday, June 30, 2006.

SERVICES
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, July 3, at the Oakwood Cemetery in Waco with her cousin Richie Oakes officiating. There will be no visitation.

HER LIFE
Kaye was born on January 24, 1950. She was the first child of proud parents Raymond and Josephine Benham. And while your first child is always special, Kaye was even more so.

Diagnosed with Down's Syndrome only weeks after her birth, medical professionals told her parents to place her in a care facility and never look back. Instead they took their beautiful baby girl home and raised an amazing individual who defied the odds and lived to be 56 years old.

Kaye welcomed four siblings into the fold. First was Janice, who Kaye emulated at every turn. Brothers Dale, Jerry and Charles came in quick succession and often found unique ways to aggravate their older sister. Yet despite shredding her paper dolls, or sitting in her chair at the dinner table, Kaye always found ways to remind them who was in charge. The siblings doted on their older sister too, crowning her Queen for a Day in honor of her birthday. Kaye's relationship with her siblings was like that of any other, they fought, irritated and loved with all their might.

Kaye began school in Levelland, Texas and in 1971 became the first graduate of the Levelland ISD Special Education Program. Her favorite teacher was Mrs. Polly Kennedy, who loved each of her students for all their abilities.

During the summers Kaye attended Camp New Dawn in Ceta Canyon. Here she was surrounded by people that shared her capacity for life. Her week was filled with giggly friends, walks in the canyon, and handmade crafts that were proudly displayed at home for many years after.

Kaye worked at Goodwill Industries for several years and saved every penny of the money she earned. If anything, Kaye was a saver. She collected all sorts of items and kept them in a variety of bags. The bags filled her room, and any out-of-town excursion required an extensive negotiation period between Kaye and her mother. Kaye wanted to take every bag with her.

As the family grew, Kaye became an aunt to Michelle, Chad, Jeremy, Erin, Sara, Jason, Matthew, Michael, Jessica and Kaitlan. But she was no ordinary aunt, for her adult body encompassed a child's soul. She would keep your secrets, dance with you in the middle of the room, let you play with her dolls (sometimes!) and instantly forgive your transgression, even if you did not deserve her unconditional pardon. She taught her nieces and nephews about compassion, humility, love and acceptance.

In the end, Kaye's spirit left long before her physical being. Her siblings and their loving spouses, Kent, Susan, Melisa and Rhonda, provided medical, spiritual and emotional support, just as they had throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by a nephew, Andrew Landon Smith.

Her parents, siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews and large extended family mourn her absence and celebrate her very extraordinary life.

Memorials may be made to Providence Hospice at www.providencehospice.org.