GILBERT, AZ—JULY 2, 2021—Double Bar S Ranch co-founder Sharon M. List, 78, died peacefully in her sleep Wednesday, June 30th.
Sharon was born September 6, 1942 in Freeman, South Dakota to William & Gertrude Gross. She resided there with her brother Curtis and sister Brenda. She remained in South Dakota until she married Jens L. List Jr, founder of Double Bar S Ranch, and they departed for California with huge hopes and dreams for a new prosperous life.
With Sharon’s home making skills and Jens’ robust ambition they soon had a beautiful home, three healthy daughters, Pam, Rhonda and Dawn and a thriving aerospace business. With the children grown and out of the house Sharon and Jens became interested in Quarter Horse racing. Their interest grew very fast and soon Double Bar S Ranch was a major player in the Quarter Horse industry.
Widowed much too early Sharon had to rebuild her life and the lives of her children. Although Rhonda and Dawn were fresh faces to the Quarter Horse world, she gave her full blessing to them to continue to operate Double Bar S Ranch. She, along with her daughters experienced great times together raising and racing their offspring.
According to Equibase stats, since 2000 Double Bar S Ranch has won 347 Quarter Horse races. Their horses finished first, second or third in 1021 of 2456 starts and earned more than $8.6 million in race earnings.
Double Bar S Ranch have raced and bred many of the industry's top horses including two-time All American Futurity(G1) and world champion sire Strawfly Special, Champion of Champions(G1) winner Jess You And I, champion and leading sire Carters Cartel, Golden State Million Futurity(G1) winner Igotyourtac, Grade 1 winner and multiple stakes sire Tac It Like A Man, to name only a few.
Sharon’s heart was never too far away from South Dakota. She made many trips back home for visits with her now passed parents and her beloved sister Brenda.
"We always told our Mom that you can take the girl out of South Dakota but you can never take South Dakota out of the girl," Rhonda Rae List said. "These words were so poetic to our Mom as she was always so kind, so humble, so unassuming and so grateful for her family."
Sharon passed unexpectedly and peacefully in her sleep on June 30, 2021. "Something one day we hope to be grateful for but, right now we are still busy being devastated," her family said this week.
Sharon is survived by her three daughters Pam, Rhonda and Dawn, two of which were her next door neighbors. Her grandchildren Edward Chudley, Joshua Chudley, Carter Dean List and Madison Rae Baber. Her siblings Curtis Gross and wife Bonnie. Her sister Brenda Schnabel and brother in law Mylo. Nieces, nephews and many lifetime friends.
The family will following her wishes of not having a service but want to thank everyone for the overwhelming amount of well wishes and love we are receiving during this impossible time.