Charles Sherman Haight

Charlie was born in Sacramento on Nov. 28, 1929 to Sherman and Verna (Tarrish) Haight. He grew up in Elk Grove, which he was proud to call home. He graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1947 and attended class reunions throughout his life, enjoying keeping up with old classmates.

Following high school, Charlie signed on to the U.S. Navy and served for two years. When he returned to civilian life, he became a long-haul truck driver for 10 years. In 1959, he took over his father’s retail nursery, Haight Nursery, on El Camino Ave. in Carmichael.

In 1964, Charlie struck out on his own, buying 25 acres and starting the wholesale Haight Nursery in Roseville, which he ran until a week before his death.

In 1966, he fell in love and married Theresa Fralick Pokorny and together they raised seven children in a blended family of five boys and two girls. Everyone helped in the nursery, which Charlie built from the original 25 acres and three employees to 75 acres and many faithful employees. He worked seven days a week and was extremely proud of what he accomplished.

Every year for most of his time as a nurseryman, Charlie attended the Farwest Show in Portland, Ore., put on by the Oregon Association of Nurseries. He would walk the aisles meeting up and gossiping with old colleagues.

When he wasn’t working, hunting was his passion. In addition to bear, deer, mountain lion and raccoon hunting in the hills and mountains near home, he would travel around the western U.S. on hunting trips for elk, big horn sheep and antelope. You could often hear his hound dogs baying as he filled their bowls with food.

In 1997, Charlie and Theresa built their dream house on 40 acres in between Lincoln and Auburn. They added a pond and planted a large flower garden with a showcase of camellias and roses. After planting hundreds of bulbs in a pasture that spread year after year, they came to call it Daffodil Hill. Charlie loved coming home to feed his cattle and 30-year-old horse, Nudge. He would travel his property on his ATV to check irrigation and fence lines.

Charlie always had a large vegetable garden and orchard and he made sure his children knew how to grow their own food. He also kept cows, horses, chickens, geese, turkey and ducks.

He raised fancy show chickens for many years, traveling California and Oregon for shows, attending meetings and winning dozens and dozens of awards. In addition to the Greater California Society of Poultry Fanciers, Charlie was a member of the California Houndsmen for Conservation, California Association of Nurseries, National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of California, Ducks Unlimited and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Theresa; his sons, Richard Haight (Deborah), Salt Lake City; Randy Haight (Kimberly), Roseville; Scott Pokorny (Lishu), Sacramento; Tom Pokorny (Lawton Eddy), Salida, Colo.; daughters, Kym Pokorny, Corvallis, Ore.; and Wendy Burke, Sacramento; a sister, Roberta Thomas, Concord; five beloved grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Ron Haight.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MountVernonMemorial.com for the Haight family.

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and practice the recommended six foot social distancing.