Sharon La Rae (Tubbs) Mercado June 10, 1938 – September 4, 2026

Sharon La Rae Mercado, of Palmetto, Florida, passed away on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the age of 88.

Born in Mesick, Michigan, to Charles and Josephine Tubbs, Sharon trained as a dancer and singer. At nineteen, she left Michigan for New York City, where she became a cosmetologist, taught dance at Arthur Murray Dance Studios, and began performing with Frank "Killer Joe" Piro. During those years, she danced professionally on shows like the Merv Griffin Show, the Jerry Lewis Telethon, and The Dick Clark Show. It was a remarkable chapter, full of memories and friendships she treasured all her life. It was also in New York that she met her husband, Anibal (Neal) Mercado, and where their first child, Neal, was born.

The family returned to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to settle, and there their daughter, Pamela, was born. Sharon's eye for beautiful things found its second act when she became a certified appraiser and opened her own antique store, later building an estate sale business. She and Anibal (Neal) retired to Florida in 2010, eventually making their home in Palmetto.

Sharon is survived by her loving husband of many years, Anibal (Neal) Mercado; her son, Neal Mercado and his wife, Elissa Kerpen, of Sydney, Australia; her daughter, Pamela Mercado Creek and her husband, Gregory Creek, of Palmetto, Florida; and her grandchildren, Kieran Mercado, Lauren Mercado, Joe Mercado, and Griffin Creek; her sister, Robin (Tubbs) Crossman and her husband, Timothy Crossman, of Palm Harbor, Florida; and her brother, Derek Tubbs and his wife, Barbara Tubbs, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was also eagerly awaiting the birth of her fifth grandchild, expected later this September.

She was also a beloved aunt to her nieces and nephew: Rory Tubbs, Ryan (Tubbs) Fischer, Regan (Tubbs) McMurtrie , Christy (Crossman) Randle and Richie Tubbs.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Tubbs and Josephine Batt; her sister, Pamela Tubbs; and her brother, Charles Tubbs.

A celebration of Sharon’s life will be held on Saturday, September 12, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant (995 Riverside Drive, Palmetto, Florida). Friends and family will gather to share food, raise a glass, and remember Sharon with stories and laughter. All who knew and loved her are warmly invited.

The Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant is unable to accept flowers. For those who wish to send floral tributes, please direct them to the family’s home at 5275 Rushmere Ct, Palmetto, FL 34221. Or in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sharon’s honor to the Humane Society of Manatee County here: https://humanesocietyofmanateecounty.wufoo.com/forms/z15hpgwo06i36h7/.