Nancy Ann Sharp

The much-loved force of nature who was Nancy Ann Sharp left this world unexpectedly on Sunday, the 3rd of August 2025, while preparing to attend an evening concert. A native Houstonian, Nancy was born on the 8th of March 1944. She attended Lamar High School and later graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree from The University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

Nancy is reunited in death with her father, William Henry Sharp; mother, Lois Marie Starkey Sharp; brother, William (Bill) Henry Sharp, Jr.; and her best friend, Betsy Sauer. Her memory will be cherished by her sister-in-law, Zoeanne Lively Sharp; niece, Elizabeth (Liz) Sharp Austin, her husband Jeremy, and their children, Everley Zoe Austin, Lucia Marie Austin, and Fletcher Lyons Austin; and niece, Allison Marie Sharp.

Nancy’s family describes her as one of a kind. She was a feisty, independent woman who left a lasting impression on everyone she met. She had a recommendation for anything you could need, a standing weekly appointment at the beauty parlor, and a refrigerator she had custom painted to look like an elegantly styled bookshelf. Her travels around the world were legendary to her great-nieces and great-nephew, who treasure the photo books of Nancy’s beloved African safaris. Her strong opinions and funny stories kept her companions entertained around the family dinner table, where she was known to linger and chat long after the meal was over. Nancy’s seat at that table can never be filled.

Nancy had a wide circle of friends that spanned decades: Close childhood friends, like her “chosen sister” Connie Seger, who gave Nancy the honor of being Godmother to her first son; The still-active Birthday Club, formed with her high school classmates over 40 years ago; College roommates Susan Hartman Pope, Helen Hackbarth Allen, Betty Sparkman Williamson, and Dana Connelly Taggart, with whom she enjoyed their 57th “Sweetie” reunion in Galveston the week before Nancy passed away; Thetas of all ages she met through her work on the Theta Charity Antiques Show; Gene Graham, Deborah Detering, and Suzy Mauze with whom she recently traveled to Africa and her many travel companions over the years as she explored every continent except Antarctica; last but not least, the many dear friends she made through professional endeavors in the design world. Nancy delighted in multi-generational relationships: from her mother’s friends to the offspring and grandchildren of her social circle. A friend recently said, “If Nancy knew you, she knew and loved your whole family.” With an extensive network like this, there was not a restaurant in Houston that Nancy could walk into without running into a friend.

Interior design was both Nancy’s profession and passion. She left her talented mark on countless residences and businesses across Houston and well beyond. But her creativity and energy did not end there. For decades, Nancy was a “fixture” at the Theta Charity Antiques Show—always on hand to help with design decisions and see to the needs of the antiques dealers (most of whom knew her by name). Beginning in 2011, Nancy served on the Advisory Council for the School of Human Ecology within the College of Natural Sciences at UT Austin, where she led a number of efforts to support the school, including the redesign of the school director’s office and other rooms in Gearing Hall. Nancy’s volunteering also extended to her beloved St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, where she contributed in several capacities. In addition to designing spaces for the church, she acted as mentor to high school students through their Kids’ Hope and Houston ReVision programs. No matter her schedule, Nancy always found a way to volunteer her time and talent.

Sid Davis, St. Luke’s Director of Music and Fine Arts, provided this stunning remembrance: “Nancy’s Texas twang belied the fact that her ability to create, as well as her eye for quality and beauty, were top notch. She was unfailingly in design mode, and for decades, she was a willing volunteer at St. Luke’s as rooms needed furnishings and decor, new buildings were erected, and existing buildings were reimagined. There are virtually no spaces that don’t reflect Nancy’s touch, carefully thought out with her friend and designer, Kathryn Coleman. From paint color to drapery, from furniture in public spaces, to art placement around the campus, the beauty of St. Luke’s is a portrait of Nancy Sharp and her unwavering dedication to making the world a more beautiful place.”

For those who knew her well, they will tell you that their lives will not be quite the same without her.

Her friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Nancy during a reception to be held from four o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 19th of September, in the Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The family will gather for a private graveside service at Glenwood Cemetery, where she will be inurned with her family.

In lieu of customary remembrances, Nancy would have been happy to have contributions made in her memory to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church (Property Maintenance Fund), 3471 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77027.

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