Community service set for Iowa family who died in Mexico

A community service for a Creston family who died while on vacation in Mexico has been set for Saturday afternoon.

A 'celebration of life memorial service” for the Sharp family will be held starting at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Southwestern Community College Gymnasium in Creston, according to the Powers Funeral Home, which is handling the arrangements. Pastor Mary O'Riley and Pastor Rick Titus will officiate the service. A private burial will follow.

Kevin Wayne Sharp, 41; Amy Marie Sharp, 38; and their children, Sterling Wayne Sharp, 12; and Adrianna Marie Sharp, 7, were found dead last Friday in a condominium they had rented for a weeklong vacation near Mexico's Caribbean coast. Mexican authorities determined the family was killed by a gas leak from a water heater in the condo.

The deaths, which may have occurred as soon as the family's first day of vacation March 14, have stunned the community of Creston, which is off Highway 34 west of Osceola. Last Sunday, hundreds of mourners turned out at a ball field there to hold a candlelight vigil in honor of the family.

Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Powers Funeral Home, 601 New York Ave. in Creston.

Those attending the community service Saturday were asked by the funeral home to 'dress in comfortable, everyday clothes, including Iowa, Iowa State or other college, sports and racing apparel.” Kevin Sharp often competed in car races in a neighboring county.

The funeral home said that, in lieu of flowers, memorials were encouraged for a Southwestern Community College scholarship, the Creston Basketball Association, the Creston Softball & Baseball League, the Padded Football League, the Creston Brownie Troop 971 and the Creston Boy Scouts.