In Memory

Sad news was received on 2-levels. Life-time member Irene Harms, who was a many year long breeder and owner of fine saddlebred showing both dark and golden horse, passed away after a stroke on June 10, 2004. Irene was not only active in breeding but had her horses shown mostly in Ohio. Because of her passion of the gold horses, she campaign several stallions. Crack-A-Rack (McClures Super Star x Nerve Racking by Folly’s Supreme Dream, and Chief Shannon Richleau Addair who came from the Shirley Campbell’s Golden Saddlebred Acres which was a major quality breeding farm of gold horses for over 34-years. Irene also served on the Board of Directors of GASHA for many years and there is a memorial trophy in her late husbands name Mike Harms given at each GASHA World Show for the Color Division. Irene like so many older supporters will be missed as she was one of our back bone members when she was able and active.

Our other loss was an outstanding lady from Texas, Nancy Merck. Nancy was fatally injured on May 28, 2004, in an accident by one of her beloved horses. She is survived by her husband, Wayne Wilner, a sister, 7-children, 3-step children, nine grandchildren and countless cousins. Nancy not only loved her horses and promoted them all but was one of the nation’s first nurses in intensive coronary care at the UCLA Medical Center. She had another career in computing, with Xerox, founding two software companies, Emerald Group of Rochester. New York and Archon Corporation of Bradenton, Florida. Nancy was also accomplished in music playing the harp and viola, as well as enjoying scuba diving, and being a pilot. Her love of horses kept her active in showing regularly at events in the Texas American Saddlebred Horse Assoc. and Golden American Saddlebred Horse Assoc.

I met Nancy several years ago just for a few minutes at the GASHA World Show where her favorite Golden Horse, Better Than Bourbon was not only to win several World titles that year but more over the next few years. Nancy was full of life and charm that placed her in ones memory if for only meeting one time. We exchanged many e-mails and several calls over the years, her upbeat personality and always having ideas to help GASHA I will miss.

Our sympathy goes out to the family and friends of both the outstanding ladies who helped so many over the years and often didn’t know it. They both had a love for life, which was a magnet to others; they are and will be truly missed.