Sharon Sally Benton Thomas

Sharon Sally Benton-Thomas (Shari), age 78, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 31, 2025. She died in her home with her husband Dani Bruce Thomas present. 

Shari was born March 29, 1947, in Long Beach, California to Cecil Thomas and Winifred Irene Benton. She married Roger Ladd Memmott in the Los Angeles LDS Temple on July 28, 1966. The couple divorced in November of 1987. Shari married Dani Bruce Thomas on July 15, 2006, in California and moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa – where Dani was a college professor – shortly thereafter. 

Shari attended Brigham Young University for two semesters. In 1970, Shari became enamored with the haircare industry and began working for Hair Surgeon Designers as Assistant to the President. Over the course of only a few years, Shari became a key principal and partner in the company. In 1980, Shari worked for Zotos International (later Conair) in Darien, Connecticut, where she developed key aspects of the business. She was an inspiration to and loved by the entire staff. Her creativity and hard work soon catapulted her to Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company. Shari was a gem in the industry, generating innovative ideas, inspiring staff, and became sought-after by major corporations in the haircare industry. She went on to work in senior executive leadership roles at Conair, Rusk, and Redken. Her ideas and inspiration of decades ago continue to influence the haircare industry today. 

Shari had several health battles over the years, including MS, but she still tried hard and smiled. Shari had a full and happy life. She was a unique loving person, an attentive mother, and a remarkable professional woman during a time that was not so easy. 

Shari is survived by two sons, Christian Ladd Memmott and Aaron Thomas Memmott; her husband Dani Thomas and four stepchildren, Heather Thomas, Alison Ross, Josh Moses and Jordan Thomas; two sisters, Michelle Benton and Kimberley Benton; nine grandchildren; and one great grandchild. In the words of her husband Dani, “Shari was a treasure beyond value, although words alone cannot convey the depth and breadth of what her loss means to all who knew and loved her.”