Sarah Margaret Sharp

Sarah Margaret Cravy Sharp was born on May 28, 1927 to Iva and Jack Cravy in San Saba County Texas. She was the youngest of four children: Maureen, Annie Ruth and Jack. She married John Lynch Sharp of San Augustine on November 3, 1951 after meeting him at Boles Field at a fox hunt. She loved to tell the story of how upon seeing him riding a horse through the camp she decided she would marry him. Her father was not so pleased – not because of the 20 year age difference – but because John was wearing Red Wing boots instead of cowboys boots. They lived briefly in Lampasas County Texas near her parents but returned to San Augustine County in 1953 during the 50’s 7 year Drought.

She died on May 7 2015. She was preceeded in death by her siblings and John.

Sarah was a simple but complex woman. She was a person of faith – a lifelong Methodist. However, she attended Memorial Presbyterian Church with John for many years. Her favorite church times were with Dr. Robert Lesley and his wife Candice and their young children. She believed in the power of prayer but not perhaps in the usual way – she prayed for other people’s souls and for strength to endure many trials and tribulations but never for specific wants and needs. She adopted the Methodist Home in Waco as her favorite charity after visiting several times with church groups.

Sarah was a community volunteer – helping people individually by taking food and checking on her elderly and also by working in various organizations such as 4H and the Denning Community Center. She served on the San Augustine School Board. She helped to organize Care and Share as a result of seeing the need for food and clothing assistance in the San Augustine area.

Sarah grew up in town but she adjusted quickly to farm life and enjoyed the outdoors. . She could build fence, cut brush, use the chain saw, milk the cow and drive the Super C tractor. She raised broiler chickens for many years. She loved raising flowers. And no she never enjoyed the large gardens she and John grew to feed their family.

Later after getting out of the chicken business Sarah worked at several jobs. She worked for several years for TriCounty Community Action as the community worker. The grandkids grew up riding in the car with her to deliver food boxes to needy families. She was a substitute mail carrier for the US Post Office. She took care of the “old ones” on the route and took their mail and packages to the door because she knew they could not walk to the mailbox. She worked for the Texas Forest Service as a senior worker and proudly yet sadly assisted with the recovery of the Columbia. She was proud of her 13 long leaf pine trees she grew from some seedlings discarded by the Forest Service. These trees now are tall and sing in the wind. She often wondered if they could talk to each other. Later she worked at the San Augustine Public Library and enjoyed both the children’s programs and the genealogy room. It was during this time she discovered that she was eligible for DRT membership through her mother’s family.

Sarah’s greatest accomplishments were actually her children and grandchildren along with their spouses. Her daughter Sarah Elizabeth Garasic earned a Master’s degree from SFA and teaches second grade in Kilgore. Sarah loved hearing stories about the children. She adopted them all as her own. Her second daughter Jeananne Elkins married Stan who she took as her own. She appreciated his stories and shared many memories with him. Jeananne earned a PhD from Texas A&M University. Sarah delighted in this degree and in the appointment of Jeananne as an Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine at Emory University. She was quick to tell anyone “my daughter is a doctor”. Additionally she is survived by two sons who each attended college as well. Sarah delighted in knowing she had given her children both the inspiration and opportunity to do something she did not have the opportunity to do herself.

Additionally she was so proud of her grandchildren – Molly Garasic, Joshua Stanley Elkins, John Thomas Elkins, Benjamin Elkins and her namesake Margaret Anne Elkins. Josh, Josh and Ben each hold a Master’s degree. Margaret graduated early from high school in October 2014. She was proud of “her nurse” Molly Garasic and was quick to tell doctors and nurses involved in her care that she had raised herself her own nurse. This dream was special to Sarah since she wanted to be a nurse and did not have the opportunity. Sarah celebrated along with the rest of the family when Josh married Tamera – his lovely wife. Sarah took her step grandson Brandon into her heart without actually meeting him and then welcomed his wife Alysha. Additionally there are 3 other grandchildren.

Into her life later came a special step great grandbaby – Baylee Elkins. She loved Baylee and enjoyed the pictures Brandon and Alysha Elkins sent to her and delighted that in 2013 Baylee came to Texas to visit. Baylee’s recent birthday card announcement was shown around the hospital last month and remained on the desk by her chair. She carefully selected the birthday gifts to send to Baylee even while recovering from a hip fracture.

Five years ago Granny welcomed Tiger into her life. Her tiny shih tzu who loved her until the end. Tiger spent the day at the hospital with her on Wednesday before her death. Tiger brought unconditional love to her and an innate ability to help her control her anxiety. All four pounds of Tiger would bite you if he was sitting on her lap in the wheelchair and you attempted to touch her. He protected his Momma.

Sarah studied history and politics. She loved to read. She loved genealogy and maintained a special place in her heart for her mother in law Molly Polk Sharp. She loved the history and significance of the Polk Sharp land heritage and proudly went to Austin to receive the 100 years in Continuous Agricultural Production Award before John died. The pictures displayed here chronicle a life well lived. She lived her faith by serving others . From the King James Version 1 Corinthians 13:13 contains slightly different wording than the oft quoted versions: And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.