Karen Kay Rhoades Sharp

Karen passed away on March 29, 2017 in Loveland, Colorado, at McKee Medical Center.

Karen was born Nov. 19, 1947, in Scottsbluff, where she attended schools and graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1965.  After graduation she moved to the San Francisco Bay area and worked at the YMCA.  After several years she moved back to Nebraska to attend Chadron State College where she studied business and met her future husband, Shelby Jack Sharp.  They were married in Cheyenne, WY in 1968 and later moved to Casper, WY where they owned and operated Wyoming Painting and Decorating until the mid-1980s.  Two daughters, Catherine and Becky were born of this marriage.  Karen divorced and returned to Scottsbluff in 1992.  Later she met and married Dennis Parks.  Karen worked at Regional Care Inc. and Kelley Bean Co. before her passing.

Karen was always a doting mother and grandmother.  She enjoyed spending time with her family and liked to hike in the Colorado Foothills and at Scottsbluff National Monument.  She was an avid gardener and enjoyed golf playing courses in Scottsbluff and South Dakota, and hole 16 at Hart Ranch in Rapid City, SD was the most memorable.

She is survived by her husband, Dennis Parks, of Gering; two daughters, Catherine (Gary) Moore of Denver, CO, Becky (Jon) Linn of Fort Collins, CO, three grandsons, brother, Billy (Brenda) Rhoades of Torrington, WY, sister, Carol Grant, of Scottsbluff, NE, sister-in-law, Patricia Rhoades, of Walnut Creek, CA and numerous nieces and nephews.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Ruby and Cecil Rhoades, brother, Sydney Rhoades, and brother-in-law, Donald Grant.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, April 8, 2017, at Westway Christian Church in Scottsbluff, NE.  There was no visitation as cremation took place in accordance with Karen’s wishes.  

Should you wish to make a tribute to Karen, memorials may be directed to The DOVES Program, 2035 10th St., Gering, NE 69341.