Sharen was born February 15, 1950 in Logan, Utah, to Russell and Josie Anderson. Sharen passed away peacefully on September 13th, 2015 with her husband, Larry Welsh (or as she called him “My Larry”) by her side. She died of a very rare disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease which affects one in a million people each year. Just like Sharen, “one in a million”.
At the age of eight she began playing the piano, which later became one of her greatest passions. She performed in many concerts, accompanied Logan High School choir and musicals. At the age of twelve she learned to play the organ, learning on the Logan Tabernacle organ. Her love and ability to make music come alive was inspiring.
Sharen graduated from Logan High School. While there she served as the school treasurer, responsible for record keeping and the payment of funds. She also learned the art of shorthand, which she used throughout her life. With her grandma's help and intense studying, she learned how to sew and continued to develop this skill all of her life. She sewed many of her own clothes, various hand sewn quilts and fun projects for the kids and grandkids. She was always sewing something for someone.
Sharen graduated from USU with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and moved to Colorado to pursue her dream of being in the fashion business. She always wanted to have her own custom dress shop, which continued to be her hope and dream.
While in Fort Collins, Sharen’s skills in budgeting and organization caught the attention of a developer who hired her to oversee the building of a golf course. She also had the opportunity to travel to New York, Denver, Boston, Tampa, Fayetteville, Louisiana, Memphis and Las Vegas while overseeing the renovation and marketing of large apartment complexes.
In 1986, her father Russell asked her to move back to Logan and help manage RVA Real Estate and later Cache Mortgage. She obtained her Real Estate Broker license and ARM (Accredited Residential Manager). Soon after her arrival she was introduced by her dad to Larry Welsh, who was the broker/owner of Coldwell Banker Gold Key Realty, RVA’s competition. She always said, ”If my own dad recommended him he must be ok.”
Sharen and Larry’s first date was building a Logan Board of Realtor float together for Aggie homecoming parade after which Larry asked Sharen to see Crocodile Dundee that same night and the rest is history; a match made in heaven. Sharen married Larry Welsh on May 23, 1987, a beautiful start to a fantastic union of love and devotion. Sharen loved Larry’s three sons and later their spouses: Jared & Codi Welsh, Brent & Kimberly Welsh , and David & Katie Welsh and eight grandchildren (Mara, Branden, Kaitlin, Hailey, Isaac (deceased), Aiden, Emmy and Macy). She loved and cherished all her family including her three siblings: Steve Anderson, Carol Bair (Bob) and Donnette Anderson (deceased).
On April 3, 2000, Sharen’s father died leaving a big empty space in her life. She took over RVA business, successfully running the property management company. Larry had always tried to hire her away but Sharen’s loyalty to her father would not allow this change, so Larry decided to buy RVA. He joked that that was the only way to get her to work for him.
Until Sharen’s passing she and “her Larry” spent all their time working, eating, traveling and playing together. She even learned to play golf and shoot guns so they could always be together. They spent time traveling for golf and sewing conventions (three this year). Sharen always had several sewing projects going or you could find her playing the piano or organ. She was the ward organist for 26 years. She played with beauty and dedication making each song special. In all her pursuits she would strive to be the best. Sharen was always a loving and caring person, willing to help everyone. All will miss her. Sharen is the best thing that happened to “My Larry” and life will never be the same now that she is gone.
The family would like to thank the very special people at IHC & University of Utah Hospitals, the caring staff at Sunshine Terrace, and Hospice for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, please go to:
www.usu.edu/sharenawelsh
and make a donation to the perpetual scholarship fund at USU to help students studying piano and organ. Please help us keep her memory and love of music alive. A graveside service will be held at the Logan Cemetery at 11:30 A.M. Monday September 21, 2015. Allen-Hall Mortuary is handling arrangements.