Gower Class of 1961 - Sherry Jo Smith

GOWER, MISSOURI
CLASS OF 1961

Year      1961

Name      Sherry Jo Smith

Yearbook      Sherry Jo Smith

Status      Deceased - 09/08/2019 St Johns, FL

Bio      Sherry Jo (Smith) Ashenfelter passed away in St. Johns, Florida on September 8, 2019 at the age of 75. Sherry was born December 18, 1943 in St. Joseph, Missouri to parents Josephine Cummings Smith and Floyd Lee Smith. Left behind to cherish Sherry’s memory are John (Jack) Ashenfelter (husband), David Elliott Boyer (son), Thuy-Trang Nguyen Boyer (daughter-in-law), Beth Smith (step-mother), Terry Lee Smith (half-brother), Deborah Kay Prendes (half-sister), her cats – Fancy and Moon Pie – and additional extended family and friends. Sherry spoke fondly of her small-town upbringing in Gower, Missouri. In the Gower Baptist Church, she participated in the Girls’ Auxiliary and Training Union, taught Vacation Bible school, sang solos and duets, and was a member of the choir. At Gower High School, Sherry served as Vice President and President of the Student Council, Editor of the Yearbook, a cheerleader, majorette, homecoming queen attendant, FHA song leader and reporter, chorus soloist, and a member of Gower’s sextet, pep club, junior play cast, and senior play cast. She graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1961 and, was awarded the Schuster Key for excellence in academics and her participation in so many activities. At the University of Kansas, Sherry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Political Science, was inducted into two honor societies, Pi Lambda Theta and Pi Sigma Alpha and graduated with distinction. At the University of Connecticut, Sherry earned a Masters degree in Social Work and, subsequently earned the Certified Social Work (CSW), and Academy of Certified Social Work (ACSW) credentials. Sherry was employed as a school social worker in Illinois where she was named Social Worker of the Year in 1983 for the Illini District of the National Association of Social Workers. Sherry was known for her intelligence, wit, outgoing personality, and compassion. She very much enjoyed public speaking and was told by many, many, people that she was a natural born teacher. Sherry considered herself an Elvis girl, and her greatest passion was dancing. Sherry and Jack, accomplished dancers, voluntarily taught dancing to over five-hundred students, ages eight to ninety-five. Sherry extended joy and encouragement to all who knew her. To honor Sherry’s memory, donations may be made to: Community Hospice and Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32257 the Jacksonville Humane Society, 8464 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32216 Westminster Retirement Communities Foundation 25 State Road 13, Jacksonville FL 32259 A celebration of life will be held for Sherry from 10am-11am on September 14th, 2019 at her retirement community – Westminster Woods on Julington Creek (25 State Road 13 Jacksonville, FL 32259) in the auditorium.

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Year	1961
Name	Sherry Jo Smith
Yearbook	Sherry Jo Smith
Status	Deceased - 09/08/2019 St Johns, FL
Bio	Sherry Jo (Smith) Ashenfelter passed away in St. Johns, Florida on September 8, 2019 at the age of 75. Sherry was born December 18, 1943 in St. Joseph, Missouri to parents Josephine Cummings Smith and Floyd Lee Smith. Left behind to cherish Sherry’s memory are John (Jack) Ashenfelter (husband), David Elliott Boyer (son), Thuy-Trang Nguyen Boyer (daughter-in-law), Beth Smith (step-mother), Terry Lee Smith (half-brother), Deborah Kay Prendes (half-sister), her cats – Fancy and Moon Pie – and additional extended family and friends. Sherry spoke fondly of her small-town upbringing in Gower, Missouri. In the Gower Baptist Church, she participated in the Girls’ Auxiliary and Training Union, taught Vacation Bible school, sang solos and duets, and was a member of the choir. At Gower High School, Sherry served as Vice President and President of the Student Council, Editor of the Yearbook, a cheerleader, majorette, homecoming queen attendant, FHA song leader and reporter, chorus soloist, and a member of Gower’s sextet, pep club, junior play cast, and senior play cast. She graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1961 and, was awarded the Schuster Key for excellence in academics and her participation in so many activities. At the University of Kansas, Sherry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Political Science, was inducted into two honor societies, Pi Lambda Theta and Pi Sigma Alpha and graduated with distinction. At the University of Connecticut, Sherry earned a Masters degree in Social Work and, subsequently earned the Certified Social Work (CSW), and Academy of Certified Social Work (ACSW) credentials. Sherry was employed as a school social worker in Illinois where she was named Social Worker of the Year in 1983 for the Illini District of the National Association of Social Workers. Sherry was known for her intelligence, wit, outgoing personality, and compassion. She very much enjoyed public speaking and was told by many, many, people that she was a natural born teacher. Sherry considered herself an Elvis girl, and her greatest passion was dancing. Sherry and Jack, accomplished dancers, voluntarily taught dancing to over five-hundred students, ages eight to ninety-five. Sherry extended joy and encouragement to all who knew her. To honor Sherry’s memory, donations may be made to: Community Hospice and Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32257 the Jacksonville Humane Society, 8464 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32216 Westminster Retirement Communities Foundation 25 State Road 13, Jacksonville FL 32259 A celebration of life will be held for Sherry from 10am-11am on September 14th, 2019 at her retirement community – Westminster Woods on Julington Creek (25 State Road 13 Jacksonville, FL 32259) in the auditorium.