Mrs. Karen Louise (Snead) Sharp, 65, of Chincoteague Island, passed away on July 28, 2025, at her home. She was born on Feb. 4, 1960, in Salisbury, Md., to the late Harold R. Snead Sr. and Evelyn B. (Hickman) (Snead) Mittle.
Karen was a graduate of Wicomico Senior High School, class of 1978, but had also attended Chincoteague Elementary from 1967 to 1970. She attended Union Baptist Church and was a part of the Daughters of Ruth Sunday School class for the last several years. While employed in several occupations since her graduation and marriage to Michael T. Sharp in August 1978, she most enjoyed her time with the Chincoteague Island Library, where she eventually served as manager for a short time before retiring in 2022.
While not born on Chincoteague, she did spend a number of years on and off being raised on the island. She also lived in Fruitland, Baltimore, and Salisbury, Md., due to her father’s employment. Her connection to the island was strong, as many islanders were blood relatives, and she and her family were eventually drawn back there to live full-time in 2016.
Karen was an avid reader and collector of books of various genres. She also enjoyed time with her family and her most recent pet cat, Willow.
She was preceded in death by her father, Harold R. Snead Sr.; her grandmother, Margaret Isabelle (Scarborough) (Hickman) Hill; her great-grandmother, Margaret Evelyn (Birch) Scarborough; her great-grandfather, Edmond Y. Scarborough; her grandmother, Lottie Elizabeth (Watson) Snead; her grandfather, Norman Snead; and her uncles, Everette J. (Buddy) Snead and Claude Snead, all of Chincoteague.
She is survived by her husband, Michael T. Sharp; her daughter, Melissa L. Sharp; her son, Michael T. Sharp II; her mother, Evelyn B. (Hickman) (Snead) Mittle; her stepfather, Ernest Mittle; her brother, Norman C. Snead Sr. and his wife, Rene J. (Carmine) Snead; her sister, Paula J. Snead; her brother, Harold R. Snead Jr.; and several nephews, nieces, and cousins.
As per her wishes, there will be no formal service, only a small family gathering at a location to be determined. The disposition of her ashes will be determined by immediate family at a later date.
Condolences may be made online at www.salyerfh.com
Anyone wanting to plant a memorial tree in her memory may do so by visiting Salyer’s Sympathy Store online.
