| Graduation Year | Class of 1982 |
| Date of Passing | Jan 11, 2015 |
| About | Sharon Rae Karst A celebration of the life of Sharon Rae Karst will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 17, 2015 at First United Methodist Church, Claremore. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 2-7 with family receiving visitors from 5-7. Sharon passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2015. She was 50. Born in Great Bend, Kansas on July 11, 1964 to Lon and Eleanor (Young) Wells, Sharon grew up in Alexander, Kansas on the family farm as the fifth generation to live in the 1879 post rock farm house. She graduated from La Crosse High School with the Class of 1982 and attended Fort Hays State College in Kansas. She began working for DSNWK which planted the seed for going into special education later in her life. After a brief career in the hotel industry in Wichita, Kansas City and Tulsa, Sharon resumed her education at NSU from where she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1993. She began her teaching career in Claremore at Central Upper Elementary and Westside before teaching at Verdigris for the last 13 years. Sharon began dating Charles Karst in 1985 when she was a bridesmaid needing a date and he needed a professional to help put together and type his resume. A romance blossomed and the two were married in a La Crosse, Kansas wedding ceremony on April 14, 1990. Their union was blessed with three children: Ashlyn, Jordyn and Collin. In 1994 Sharon and Charles designed and built their dream home in Claremore where they together reared their family and instilled God’s Word in the hearts of their children. A devoted mother, Sharon was actively involved in the lives of her children, especially with her girls’ dance. She spent many years behind the desk as a receptionist and backstage as the stage director and coordinator at dance recitals for Miss Kim’s, which became Reality Dance and finally K and Co. Dance Studio. Sharon loved to travel and enjoyed many wonderful vacations throughout her life. Before her children were born she was able to visit Australia and enjoy the scenery and culture there. When children came along, Sharon loved taking trips with her children to Disneyland, Mount Rushmore and many other wondrous destinations. One memorable family trip led the family to take refuge from a monstrous hail storm in Amarillo, which left the family’s vehicle with a large amount of damage and to the surprise of Sharon and Charles that is what the children still speak about today. As a teacher, Sharon was very influential in her students’ lives but her greatest influence was the lesson she taught her family and friends about the way she lived with her cancer diagnosis. She was positive, upbeat and she lived life to the fullest while she was able. Her faith and humor helped her as she fought the cancer. As a member of First United Methodist Church, Sharon held dear her church friends and family. This loving wife, mother, sister and teacher will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched. Sharon is survived by her husband Charles Karst; children Ashlyn, Jordyn and Collin; mother Eleanor Wells; brother Kirk Wells and wife Nada; and numerous nieces and nephews. Sharon was preceded in death by her father. In lieu of flowers or other condolences please consider making a donation to any of the following organizations: METAvivor (Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Research) 1783 Forest Drive, #184, Annapolis, MD 21401 First United Methodist Church Endowment Fund 1615 N. Hwy 88, Claremore, OK 74017 or Hospice of Green Country 1120 S. Boston Ave., Ste. 200, Tulsa, OK 74119 |
