Sharon (Schartz) Garman passed away peacefully in Palm Springs, CA, on December 11, 2021, after a lengthy struggle with breast cancer.
She was surrounded by family and friends and all the things she loved. She did it in her own way, and on her own terms, and we all feel lucky for that.
Sharon was born on September 22, 1952, at St. Joseph Hospital to Jewel and Omar Schartz in Larned, KS and graduated from Larned High School in 1970.
She was preceded in death by her parents Jewel (George) Schartz, whose legacy to Sharon was her incredible gift to design and create, and Omar Schartz of Larned, KS who bestowed on Sharon his passion for life-long learning and self-education. Her grandparents were Charlie and Dora (Sewing) Schartz, Zook, KS and Chester and Nellie (Hockensmith) George, Larned, KS.
She is survived by her husband, Ron, son Tyler, his wife Lindsey and precious granddaughters Stella and Victoria, all of Rogers, AR.
She is also survived by siblings Tony Schartz, Amarillo, TX; Susan Rankin (Mike) Gardner, KS; Cindy Potter (Mike) Olathe, KS; Carolyn Bahr (Joe) Denver, CO; and Jim Schartz (Lisa) Colby, KS. She is also survived by loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, and a host of dear friends.
She graduated from Emporia State University in 1974 with a BS in Education and served as a teacher at Blessed Sacrament Parochial School until 1976 in Wichita, KS.
Sharon earned her first Masters degree in Educational Administration followed with a second Masters degree in Secondary School Counseling at University of Arkansas, all by 2005.
Sharon served as guidance counselor at Rogers High School in Rogers, AR until approximately 2009, where she watched Tyler’s football games from the parking lot because she couldn’t stand the stress.
She served as the steely skipper at RoArk Group, a printing company owned at the time by the Garman family and managed by son Tyler. She retired in 2015.
She was known as GG by her dear granddaughters and everyone who crossed their paths.
She was a gifted designer and decorator and decorated many homes in her lifetime. She designed jewelry and other beautiful things her entire life, including amazing projects for her granddaughters and friends at their summer camp, playfully called Camp GG. Stella and Victoria can attest that there was no whimsical project GG wouldn’t design and organize for the girls and their friends to enjoy.
We watched in wonderment at Sharon’s determination to handle her final months, weeks and days exactly as she had planned, and we were all enthusiastically on board with her wishes (with herculean assistance from sister Susan). She died with all her plants watered, her elephant ears cut down, the bulbs reserved for the rest of us, and her homes in perfect order. We should all be so lucky to structure our waning days the way Sharon did. What strength she exhibited!
In a private ceremony for family members only, her ashes will be scattered at the family’s home and property on Beaver Lake. In lieu of a public service, Sharon requests that you take a moment to spend time with your precious family and loved ones every chance you have.
Memorials in Sharon’s honor can be made to Reliance Hospice, 74130 Country Club Drive, Suite 103, Palm Desert, CA 92260, the Hospice Foundation of America, 1707 L Street NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC 20036, (www.hospicefoundation.org/Donate), or to the Clinton Foundation, 1633 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York NY 10019, (www.clintonfoundation.org).