Shara Lee Zatopek

1951 - 2025

Shara Lee Zatopek
04/02/1951 - 04/23/2025
Shara Lee Zatopek , R. Ph., 74, of Conroe TX, passed away on Wednesday, April 23 in Conroe, after a courageous and dignified battle with dementia.
She was born April 2, 1951, in La Grange TX, the second child of three children, born to Dr. Leland F. and Elizabeth "Bettye" (Drachenberg) Zatopek. She attended the La Grange Public Schools and was an honor graduate of La Grange High School in 1969 where she was Miss LHS. At the University of Houston, Shara was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She graduated from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy with a BS degree in pharmacy in 1974 and received a Master's degree from Houston Baptist University. Shara married H. Porter Everts in Houston on July 7, 1999.
During her career she was a health-system pharmacist (M.D. Anderson Hospital) as well as a community pharmacist and pharmacy manager for both chain and independent stores. Shara's career at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy spanned 30 years. She wore many hats over the years from teacher to assistant dean to associate dean in such areas as operations, academic and student affairs, and admissions. She was a member of both the Dean's Executive Council and the Dean's Advisory Council under 3 deans. As an educator she taught thousands of students whether as part of their degree program or to current pharmacists through continuing education. Shara was not only a preceptor and a mentor to individual students but also an advisor to student organizations. She was a behind-the-scenes member of too many committees and task forces to name. Time after time she answered the call when needed by the College of Pharmacy including the De Facto Development Officer, Alumni Relations Officer, and College Historian. Shara was a charter member of the College's Mading Society as well as a member of the University of Houston's "In Tempore" Society for Planned Giving.
Related to her professional service Shara was a national president of the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society. She was a board member, chair, and president of the Harris County Pharmacy Association. She was a member of the board of directors of the Texas Pharmacy Association as well as having numerous other leadership positions such as Speaker and Vice Speaker of the House of Delegates. She was also a trustee of the Texas Pharmacy Foundation. She was appointed a member of several task forces under the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. She was a board member and president of the UH Pharmacy Alumni Association.
In recognition of her service to the profession and pharmacy education, Shara earned many awards and honors including five national awards--two awards from the American Pharmacists Association –Academy of Student Pharmacists-the National Advisor of the Year Pharmacist in 1995 and the Outstanding Pharmacist Service Award in 1991 and three awards in 1994 alone-the National Phi Lambda Sigma Faculty Leadership Award, the Merck National Achievement Award, and the 3 M National Brown Bag Award. At the state and local level, her awards included the Texas Pharmaceutical Association's Pharmacist Educator in 1997; one of the UH College of Pharmacy's "50 Outstanding Alumni" as part of the College's Golden Anniversary in 1997; the Harris County Pharmacy Association's Pharmacist of the Year in 1995; the UH Outstanding Faculty Service Award in 1995; the Phi Lambda Sigma UH Chapter's Faculty Leadership Award in 1996; and the UH-COP Meritorious Service Award in 2016.
Shara volunteered countless hours to the community through her work with such non-profit organizations as Casa Juan Diego Clinic, Planned Parenthood, and Star of Hope. She enjoyed reading and gardening.
She was predeceased by her husband, H. Porter Everts (2013) and her parents, Dr. Leland F. (2006) and Elizabeth D. Zatopek (2015).
Shara is survived by her son Cyril Dayton Kring II (Erica) of Trinity TX; her granddaughter Celeste Kring of Alamogorda, NM; her grandson Trent Fulkerson of Houston TX; her sister, Susan Z. Marburger (Thomas) of Brenham TX; her brother, Dr. David L. Zatopek (Cindy) of La Grange TX; two nieces Dr. Elizabeth R. Zatopek (Ryan Lester) of La Grange TX and Rebekah L. Zatopek (Skye Trafton) of Jacksonville FL; as well as three great nephews and two great nieces.
A celebration of life will be held Sunday, May 4 at 10:00 AM at Forest Park Funeral Home in Houston.
Shara established three endowed scholarships at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy in memory of her father, Leland F. Zatopek, M.D., R.Ph.; Red, White, & Blue Scholarship in memory of her uncle, Dayton L. Drachenberg; and in memory of Shara L. Zatopek, R.Ph. In lieu of other remembrances, Shara requested memorial contributions to one of the above scholarships at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Director of Advancement, 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houston TX 77204-5000 or to the charity of one's choice.
Cards may be sent to Dayton & Erica Kring, 144 E. Sloop Drive, Trinity TX 75862-8645.