She was preceded in death by her parents, Neil and Opal Ennis of Little Rock, Ark.; sister, Irelene Keller of Houston, Texas; and niece, Kristen Keller of Fort Smith, Ark. Survivors include her husband, Ralph Mathison, her soulmate and devoted caretaker; son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy and Abby North and grandson, Morgan North; sister and best friend, Linda Valentine, her husband, Buck and her favorite niece, Amy Valentine, all of Little Rock, Ark. She also is survived by three stepsons, their wives and Ralph and Sherry's grandchildren; Wes and Allysa Mathison and Sean, Victoria and Olivia; Hal and Melissa Mathison and Grace; and Mark Mathison and Rosemary Greene and Russell, Charlie and Mary Elizabeth.
Sherry grew up in Little Rock, Ark. She was a Claims Adjuster with State Farm Insurance in Little Rock and New Bern, N.C. In 1986, Sherry and Ralph moved to Cartersville, where she was an active member of Heritage Baptist Church and especially loved her Sunday school class. Sherry loved her dogs and later rescued three shelter puppies that all should have been named "Lucky" to have been loved by her.
Sherry defied her disease with grace and dignity. She never let her disease prevent her from always being a fashion icon in town. She will be remembered always for her strength, style and sass. She filled the lives of those closest to her with love and laughter.
Visitation will be at Owen Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 14, from 5 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Heritage Baptist Church on Thursday, March 15, at 1 p.m. She will lie in state at the church from noon to 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF), 8085 Saltsburg Road, Suite 201 Pittsburgh, PA 15239, www.umdf.org, or to Heritage Baptist Church, Cartersville.
Sosebee Funeral Home, Canton, is honored to serve the family. www.sosebeefuneralhome.com, 770-479-2131.