Past Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club member Nancy Carbaugh Sheely died from cancer earlier this week.

Nancy’s contributions to the PSDC were HUGE. She served on the PSDC Board of Directors from 1988 thru 1999. During that time she was awarded the club’s Jim Gauger Memorial Award for contributions to the club twice – in 1990 and 1994.

She competed in limited class sprint racing, freight racing (a class with 50 lbs of weight added for each dog run) and weight pulling. She was especially proud of her two award winning weight pull dogs, Fudge and Astro.

She encouraged and guided both her daughters, Dr Heather Huson and Nicole Carbaugh Stoneroad as they advanced from competing in PSDC’s Pee Wee classes to adult sprint racing.

But her own children were not the only benefactors of her guidance. In the spring of 1989 Nancy organized and ran PSDC’s junior division. The club’s juniors were not only encouraged to compete at races; but also to volunteer at club events. Patches were earned with points awarded for both competing and assisting adult race officials and volunteers. For example, juniors could assist the chute judge checking for proper equipment or gather race bibs after each class. Nancy also worked with ISDRA’s junior program.

Nancy is responsible for shaping our summer campout. The original event was a small demo for the public in 1973 at Woodward Caves in Woodward, PA. A few people responsible for the demo camped overnight. Slowly more people joined in and started very short “Gig” races.

In 1985 Nancy took over as organizer at Woodward Caves and transformed the event. The public could still hear a short talk about sled dog racing and watch both the dogs run and an obedience demonstration.

Nancy added the calcutta that year as a fund raiser for the club that year. A Best Dog Costume contest was also added.

In 1986 the summer campout schedule was expanded to include a Stupid Pet Trick contest , a dog obstacle course and a community corn roast for PSDC members. In 1987, speakers were added to the schedule. Harris and Ginger Dunlap were the first musher celebrities that Nancy presented to PSDC campers. In the late 1980’s thru the 1990’s Nancy continued as PSDC’s Summer Campout organizer. Speakers during that time frame included Charlie Champaigne, Roxy Wright, and Kathy Frost. Lloyd Lowry, Libby Riddles and George Attla. The most teams entered were 56 in 1991.

Nancy is also responsible for the creation of the Tug Hill Challenge. She first organized this race in 1993. That year the race started in a field just outside the town of Mansville. The race site was moved its present location – the CCC Camp in 1995 and Nancy worked with a local snowmobile group and the Winoa Forest Recreation Association to establish sled dog trails. The last loop that Nancy helped create was finished in the fall of 2003. It didn’t matter which PSDC event she attended - Nancy Carbaugh would be found volunteering. She assisted with the 1994 ISDRA meeting in Syracuse hosted by PSDC. She hand crafted fur musher hats and donated them to various PSDC auctions and raffles. She generously opened her home to many club members who drove to Tug Hill to train on snow.

The Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club wouldn’t be what it is today without the many contributions of Nancy Carbaugh Sheely.

No services are planned. Sympathy cards may be sent to her husband and two daughters:
Pete Sheely, 4664 Green Valley Road Seven Valleys PA 17360
Heather Huson, 42 Briggs Allen Road Candor NY 13743
Nicole Carbaugh Stoneroad, 8 Revolution Drive Windham ME 04062