Vera Ellen Tharp, 68, of Lake Placid lost her 10-year battle with cancer and went home to be with her Lord on Thursday morning, August 4, 2022 at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Vera was born on June 19, 1954 in Sumter, South Carolina. She was the daughter of Ida Joanne Roberts (Ted) and Fredrick McAlister (Dot). Vera has been a resident of Lake Placid since August 1990, moving here from McKinney, Texas, but had spent most of her childhood through her 20's in Jacksonville, Florida. She was very active in the family business, the Golden Corral from 1990 until she finally retired in 2005, now known as the GC Grillhouse here in Lake Placid. She was the past board member and president of the Meadowlake Homeowners Association in Lake Placid and had been a member of the Lake Placid Garden Club. Vera was of the Christian faith. Vera was the matriarch of her family, which she cherished so much and was active in all of her children, grandchildren, and great granddaughter's lives. She enjoyed cooking those family meals and loved to be with her family and friends anytime they could get together.

Vera is survived by the love of her life of 46 years Mark, daughter: Jacqueline Suzanne Conner (Eric), sons: Mark Lee Tharp II (Selena) and Brian Ray Tharp (Claudia), nine grandchildren- Eric Conner III (Baileigh), Donovan DJ Conner (Haylie), Celeste, Cristian, Chloe, Brian, Caleb, Emily and Easton Tharp, one great granddaughter; Vera Jo Conner; sisters; Peggy Brandt, Gracie Mehler, and brothers; Bryan (Deborah), Alfred (Kathy), Kenny (Joanna) and Ronnie (Lynn) McAlister, along with sister-in-law, Alice Carlin (Rocky).

A funeral service to celebrate Vera's life will be held Saturday, August 13, 2022 at with Pastor Lonnie Wells and Debbie Rutledge officiating. The family will receive friends and family at 2pm for an open casket viewing at the Lake Placid Government Center in the Master Chamber Hall, The Celebration of Life service will start promptly at 3pm and a reception will follow the service at the GC Grillhouse in Lake Placid. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in honor of Vera Tharp to Moffitt Cancer Center for cancer research.