Shari Pack

Shari Elaine Evans Pack passed away September 9, 2026. She leaves behind her loving husband of 64 years, David Richard Pack. Hers is a tremendous posterity. Their family includes 13 children (two of whom preceded her in death) with eleven spouses, 69 grandchildren and their spouses, and 27 great grandchildren. She recited all of their names daily, and never forgot a birthday.

Shari loved the gospel and loved music, and often combined the two. She taught voice lessons as adjunct faculty at Ricks College and BYU-Idaho for 39 years. With her beautiful coloratura soprano voice, she was the featured soloist in many performances, from Handel’s Messiah and Bizet’s Carmen, to performances of Crawford Gates’ Visions of Eternity and K. Newell Dayley’s Emmanuel. She loved playing the organ in the temple chapel, and conducted multiple ward and stake choirs.

Born January 7, 1942, Shari was raised in the Berkeley, California area. As the oldest daughter of Jack and Elaine Evans (a renowned sculptor), Shari thrived in their artistic environment. She and her sister Gayle and brother Greg often performed together. She starred in children’s theater productions, and made a lovely Snow White. It was in a young adult LDS Institute production of The Glass Menagerie that she met and fell in love with David Pack.

David and Shari were married in the Laie Hawaii temple (July 13, 1962), and spent the first three years of their marriage in Berkeley, California. In 1965 they moved with their two young children to Laie, Hawaii to complete their education at the Church College of Hawaii (CCH, now BYU-Hawaii). Shari supported David’s education efforts (teaching many piano lessons), and eventually earned a Bachelors of Arts in Music from CCH, graduating summa cum laude. She was able to complete her degree with six children in tow. Moving to Idaho in 1973, she worked as adjunct music faculty at Idaho State University in Pocatello and Ricks College/BYU-Idaho in Rexburg.

Shari’s love for music brought a harp into their home in 1975 (purchased from her sister Gayle who had become an accomplished harpist at Shari’s encouragement). That began a lifelong love for the instrument, motivating her own harp study and resulting in all six of her daughters playing the harp. Shari started the harp curriculum at Ricks College, and developed a vibrant harp ensemble program at Ricks and BYU-I that performed every semester and for multiple important events.

Recognizing a dearth of music arranged or composed for multiple harps, Shari worked tirelessly to fill that void. Initially arranging music for her teenage harpist daughters, she soon began arranging for her college ensembles. The music she arranged was for two, three, or four harp parts, but it always skillfully wove the melody through all the parts so that every player recognized their value to the performance. She also was mindful of her players’ abilities and would arrange in such a way to ensure all her harpists, regardless of experience level, would be able to participate and contribute. Shari’s harp ensemble catalogue is one of the world’s largest, with 154 arrangements for two, three, or four harps. She started her own publishing company to share this beautiful music with harpists throughout the world.

Shari was very active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and cherished her membership. She was an invited speaker at BYU Education Week, and spoke about the love of family and her spiritual experiences following the loss of two of her sons, Nathan as a newborn, and Howard as a teenager. She served in numerous callings, and delighted in serving as a temple ordinance worker with her husband.

From helping sons with their paper routes to staying up all night sewing dresses for prom, she devoted all her time to her family. She taught her children songs to be performed for their grandparents and taught piano and harp lessons to every willing grandchild. Eventually, her favorite hour of the week was Sunday night, when all of her available family members would gather at her home for “Singing Time.” It became an honored tradition and Shari spent hours compiling music books to be used for the special time.

Shari’s life of faith, love, family and music leaves a lasting legacy. She was preceded in death by her sons Nathan and Howard, and grandson Oliver. Shari is survived by her husband David; her siblings, Greg Evans and Gayle Evans Madsen; and 11 children: Elaine (Greg) Litster, Craig (Camille) Pack, Spencer (Heather) Pack, Gaylen (Tom) Worthen, Sarah (Corey) Shaw, Heidi (Jerry) Walker, Conrad (Mary) Pack, Juliet (Spencer) Tietjen, Marie (Jeffrey) Sutherland, Evan (Heather) Pack, and Lance (Erika) Pack.

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at the Rexburg East Stake Center at 11:00 am. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 am till 10:45 am as well as on Friday, September 18, 2026 at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg from 5:30 pm till 7:00 pm.