November, 29,2025

Elizabeth "Liz" Sharpless (Barnes), 74, of Kennewick, WA, passed away from natural causes. Born February 21, 1951, in Normal, Illinois, Liz was the third of five children to Charles Clifford Barnes and Gladys Barnes.

A spirited and fearless woman, Liz stood 5'10" with the gumption of someone twice her size. She never backed down from a fight, armed with a fiery wit and sharp tongue that made her unforgettable.

Liz married Richard (Rick) Sharpless in California, and together they welcomed their son Richard Scott in 1971. After their divorce, she moved to Washington, where she gave birth to her daughter Shirley Elizabeth (Beth) Ellington in 1978. Liz raised her children largely on her own, working a wide range of jobs—from waitress and bartender to limo driver and school bus driver—always with resilience and humor.

She shared her life with longtime partners Clinton Larson, until his passing, and later Robert (Doc) Goodell, her companion until her own passing.

Liz loved butterflies, seeing in them a reflection of her own journey—resilient, transformative, and never meant to stay in one place for long. Like the wings she admired, her life was colorful, unpredictable, and full of motion. She found joy in their beauty, just as she did in her own passions: horseback riding, crochet and macramé, and the occasional slot machine pull.

She is preceded in death by her parents and sister Victoria Waterson (Barnes). She is survived by her son Richard, daughter Beth, son in law Jimmy Thygerson, grandsons Cody, Kadin, and Max Taylor, granddaughter Mckenzie Thygerson, her older brother Marvin Barnes, kid sister Susan Johnston, kid brother Matthew Barnes, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Liz will be remembered for her strength, humor, and the stories that will continue to be told with laughter and love—her spirit taking flight, much like the butterflies she cherished.