Nancy Karr Sharmer passed away at her sister’s home in Pahrump, Nevada on August 6, 2022 at 8:00 a.m.

Nancy was born in Carbondale, Illinois to the late Major Russell B. Karr and his wife, Virginia Cummins Karr. She spent some of her childhood in Germany and the Presidio in San Francisco while her father served in the Army. In 1961, the family moved to Santa Cruz, CA. She then moved to Clovis, CA with her first husband, Jay Myron Sharmer, to whom she was married for 45 years. He preceded her in death in 2006. In 2011, she and longtime family friend, Ron Deubner, married in a double ceremony in Las Vegas with their best friends, Don and Etta Hobbs. Ron preceded Nancy in death in May of 2022.

Nancy is survived by her son, John Randall Sharmer of Boulder Creek, CA (who shared her love of classic Mustangs); her stepson, Jay Myron Sharmer, Jr. of Santa Cruz; her sister, Roberta Critchett of Pahrump, NV; her brother; Thomas Karr of Pahrump, NV; her cousin, Pat Corzine Catherall of Eagle Mountain, Utah; her cousins Chris and Russell Juhl of Santa Cruz; and her sister-in-law, Laurel Sharmer of Monmouth, Oregon.

In Santa Cruz, Nancy worked as a personal banker. She was known as a kind, loving person. She introduced her cousin to a co-worker that she felt that he would like. He did like. They have been married for over 5 decades. Her stepson felt that kind, loving nature too. He brought his lunch to her workplace many times where they ate lunch together and talked.

Nancy had great loves in her life. Not only did she love her husbands and classic Mustangs, but she had other great passions. One was the singing group, The Mavericks. She traveled with friends to many of their concerts. Each concert was a joyful party and looked forward to with great gusto. She loved them in Spanish and loved them in English.

Her lifelong passion was thoroughbred horse racing. Nancy grew up next door to Calumet Farms, with its record history of Kentucky Derby winners, Triple Crown winners, and 11 horses in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. As a little girl, she sat on the fences, watching them gallop horses, waving at the walkers, grooms, and trainers. They began to call out, “Hi Nancy!” As she aged, Nancy, her sister-in-law, and her sister began to travel the nation to visit racetracks and barns. As she began to research, speak to trainers and owners and jockeys about the horses, breeding, what to look for in a champion, luminaries in the field began to recognize her love for the horses themselves and began to answer her questions, introduce her to others in surrounding fields. Her ability to pick a winner improved. Finally, in 2019 she bought a small share in a colt with promise named Authentic. He won the 146th Kentucky Derby in 2020 and The Breeder’s Cup in the same year.

If there is a heaven, Nancy is sitting on the fencing of the heavenly paddocks, humming “Come Unto Me” with the greatest racehorses that ever lived, galloping by during their morning workout, while the trainers and walkers yell out, “Hi Nancy!”

Those who wish to help remember Nancy might wish to donate to Tierra Madre, a 501(c)(3) sanctuary for abused horses and humans. https://tierramadrehorseandhu…

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