Sharon Mae Paddock
March 26, 1944 to Oct. 18, 2025

Sharon Mae Paddock age 81, passed away October 17, 2025 at St Joseph Hospital in Eureka.

Sharon was born on March 26, 1944 in Eureka to Walton and June Hitchings. She was the youngest of four siblings — Ione Stapp, Glenda Stapp and Sam Hitchings.

She grew up in the Myrtletown area and attended Worthington Elementary. As a young student and natural-born social butterfly, she launched the “What’s Happening” newsletter — she took pride in the task, and loved staying on top of the social drama.

She often cheered on her sisters at local rodeos and enjoyed visiting family and friends in the nearby mountain areas. She and her family frequently played live music, sang, danced and shared hearty home-cooked meals. These times created many fond memories — and even more great stories!

At 11 years old, she became ill with a rare thyroid condition, and at the time was the second youngest to undergo such a risky procedure. Dhe survived it, and emerged with forthright spunk!

At the age of 16, while attending a dance at the Iaqua schoolhouse, Sharon caught the eye of her future husband, Billy Paddock. She loved dancing and through out the years taught several young men how to properly move a girl around the dance floor. Sharon passed on her passion for dancing to both her children.

In high school, her spirited spunk carried over into several clubs: drama, choir, FFA, and Pom Pom cheer. In 1962 she graduated Eureka senior high and was crowned the FFA Queen.

After high school Sharon jokingly said she attended HSU for one semester in pursuit of her “Mrs.” degree — and by all accounts, she succeeded! Billy returned home from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and asked her to marry him. They wed on June 6, 1964.

Soon after, they moved to their honeymoon home on the Paddock Kneeland Ranch, which at the time spanned 2,600 acres. They resided there for two years, welcoming their daughter Candice.

In 1967, Sharon and her family moved to Othello, Washington, to work the 250-acre family farm, raising alfalfa, wheat and cattle, in contrast. The Washington basin heat was challenging. They learned to bale alfalfa during the midnight hours, to insure the correct moisture content, putting up 2,200 tons a season. Three farm years later, in 1970, Sharon gave birth to her son Will, and all of things he was allergic to … hay.

Humboldt County eventually called them back home — and they never left. The family lived in the Eureka/Arcata area for many years. Eventually Sharon and Bill built their forever home and once again settled on Kneeland.

Through the years, Sharon had a diverse career path. She worked for Save-a-lot meats, managed a outdoor furniture assembly crew at Crown Redwood, was a personal caretaker, and ultimately became a realtor and partner with her husband at Humboldt Land Company/Paddock Real Estate.

She excelled at horseshoe pitching. What began as a hobby turned into world-class excellence. Sharon’s determination led to placing third in the World-women’s league, accompanied by multiple California state championships. If she pitched 100 horseshoes, 82 on average would be ringers. Her best game was 98 percent.

Her family often traveled together, pitching in tournaments througout the states. Once they performed at the Ukiah state fair, being billed as the highest percentage pitching family in the state, and were dubbed “Those Amazing Paddocks” in the local Times-Standard newspaper. (A clipping worth keeping!)

She had a professional court built in the backyard of every home she owned — neighbors still comment on the guaranteed clink of her hitting the stake, signaling yet another ringer made. Beyond the competition, the friendships and social ties made were enduring and significant.

Sharon and Billy recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary — a remarkable milestone for anyone who truly understands the vows “to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” Billy was right by her side when she passed.

She is survived by her husband, Bill; her children, Candice Trask (Del) and Will Paddock (Krista); her grandchildren, Lacey Jensen (Tyler), Cortney Cole (Kyle), and Dakota Paddock; great-grandsons Waylon Cole and Torin Jensen; sister, Glenda Stapp; half sister: Dolores Torgerson (Carl); sister-in-law, Mary Guynup (John) and brother-in-law, Ben Bowers; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service is planned for Sunday, November 2, 12 p.m. at Iaqua Cemetery, Kneeland.

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