Our People: Busy baker

Sharla Beevers co-owned Pawpaw's Pet Grooming in Clovis until she had a stroke in June 2008. The stroke paralyzed the left side of her body, and although she is walking now, she is not fully recovered.

KEVIN BAIRD: CMI photo

Sharla Beevers gets ready to make chocolate peanut butter cookies.

Beevers, 33, discovered a passion for baking about two years ago while she was pregnant with her son, Gauge. She started out by perfecting a family pumpkin bread recipe. Soon her friends were making requests for other breads, pies and cookies. Beevers now spends about 25 hours of every week baking. She sells her baked goods at cost to family, friends and anyone who likes to eat baked goods.

What inspired you to start baking? I think because growing up, my grandma was an amazing cook. Everyone in the family and all of my friends always wanted to go to her house because she always had good food. I love that feeling of home and people I love eating, talking, and making memories.

If you could bake for any three people who would they be? My grandpa because he was always my biggest fan, my grandma because she would be honest and tell me of something was not good, and Tim's mother because he compares all cooking to hers and I would love her help.

Sharla Beevers sells the breads, pies and cookies she bakes at cost.

What do you and your husband do in your free time? Tim (my fiancé) loves to grill, and that is not my strong point, so I do food preparation and veggies. Love getting together with family and friends and just being together.

What is your favorite TV show? Most definitely, "Chopped." I am addicted.

What lessons have you learned from your experience with the stroke? Anything can happen good or bad at any given time. Do the best you can with the circumstances you are dealt, and laugh. Laugh a lot.

What do you like about Clovis? My family and friends are here, well, most of them.

What is your idea of a perfect vacation? Some place cold with lots of snow. A cabin with a big fire, no cell phone or Internet.

Beevers was told by doctors she would not be able to have a child. She says her son Gauge is a miracle child.

What is your favorite summertime memory of growing up in Clovis? Going out to Ned Houk Park to see the buffalo and the old equipment. My grandfather was good friends with Pappy Thornton, so we got to go in and play around.

You are engaged to be married. How did you and your fiancé meet? We first met in 1999 when we both worked at Walmart, dated for a while, then didn't see or talk to each other until February 2008. We got back in touch on Myspace.

— Compiled by CMI staff writer Kevin Baird