Sharon was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico on September 19, 1958, to Manuel A. and Vicky Abeyta Ortiz. She, like Brent, was the middle child. She has an older sister, Annette, and a younger sister, Diane. While growing up she was active in Brownies, Junior and Cadet Girl Scouts. She liked to play baseball and flag football with neighborhood kids, and loved to run.

Sharon attended school at Douglas Elementary, Memorial Middle School and Las Vegas Robertson High School, home of the "Cardinals." Sharon played the clarinet in school bands from the fifth-tenth grades. She served as the Assistant Editor and Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook; belonged to the National Honor Society; and was the 1976 Queen of Courts (Basketball Homecoming). She graduated from Robertson in May 1976.

In the fall of 1976, Sharon went to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Her dad told her she could only go to UNM if she pursued a degree in a field of study that wasn't offered at NM Highlands University in Las Vegas. So she chose nursing, but she didn't like biology so she changed her major after one week to business. During her second and third semesters, her father and maternal grandmother passed away. Sharon decided to go back to Las Vegas and attend Highlands in 1978. She was very studious during her freshman, sophomore, and junior years but during her senior year and graduate school she discovered and enjoyed the social life of college. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in December 1979 with a major a in business administration with a concentration in marketing. In December 1981, Sharon received her Masters in Business Administration.

Upon graduation, Sharon went to work at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. She got an apartment in Los Alamos which turned out to be a major mistake for a very young, "single" adult. The town basically shut down by 8:00 p.m. After a year and a half, Sharon accepted a job in Denver with the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO). That turned out to be a shorter job. The job involved a lot of traveling by herself. She couldn't stand living out of a suitcase and was lonely. Her umbilical cord pulled and she moved "home." After four months of relaxing , she realized that the gap of time on her resume [needs an accent on the last e] wasn't going to look good so she needed to get a job. Her older sister had worked for the State of New Mexico, and the year before had received two salary adjustments, one of which all State employees received. Sharon decided to apply with the State. On April 11, 1984, she went to work for the New Mexico State Police as a Budget Analyst. She figured she better stay with them, at least, three years to show that she could hold a job longer than 16 months. On August 3, 2002, eighteen years and four months and five positions later, Sharon accepted employment with the Office of the State Engineer. Yes, it's the same agency where Brent works but a different division.

In January 1995, a mutual friend, Sarah Roybal, introduced Brent and Sharon. After their first lunch, Brent promised Sarah a steak dinner if they got married. Although they got married, Brent still owes her a steak dinner; but Sharon always thanks Sarah for introducing them. Sharon had always been career oriented and very serious, but Brent made her realize that there is more to life than "work." He made her laugh, and he always pointed out the beautiful sunsets, moon, planets, and constellations. The reason Brent took so long to get married was because he was looking for someone who had something in common with his mother. Sharon was the lucky girl because she has the same birthday as Lee. Brent only has to remember one birthday and that's good for Brent given his memory for dates.

Brent is the best thing that ever could have happened to Sharon. He gave her two beautiful children, Christopher and Jennifer.

More soon!