Christine Sherrill

Christine didn’t always have life easy. Growing up, her family moved frequently, and she attended numerous elementary schools, Fulmore and Allen Jr High, and Austin High School. Her dresses were often made out of dyed feed sacks, and Christmas consisted of one gift placed under the bed. She drew and heated well water to wash clothes on a washboard. She also helped out by sweeping the yard, milking a cow, plucking chickens, and washing the dishes. Her family sometimes lived in places without electricity and she was about 16 before she had the luxury of indoor plumbing. Although life was not easy, love was abundant and the family was close.

Although Christine loved school, she left Austin High School when she was 15 years old to help support her family. Several teachers came to her house and begged her to come back to school, but she had already made the decision to work to support her family. She eventually saved and bought a television for her younger brother Jay to watch, and she put a down payment on a house for her parents. Christine completed her GED as an adult and encouraged her children to complete their college degrees.

She worked a variety of jobs before retiring from the U.S. Post Office in 1989 after 23 years of service. Her first job was working 12 hour days at Home Steam Laundry (Austin) where her first week’s paycheck amounted to less than $9. She worked various retail jobs in Austin including wrapping gifts at Scarborough’s, managing the fountain at Grand Silvers, and also worked at Woolworths where she earned a whopping $18 per week. Other jobs included working as a car hop and waitress in Galveston, Corpus Christi (LaPalma), and Austin (Stallion and Shanty). She enjoyed working for veterinarian, Dr. Tischler; however, she went back to work at the Shanty because she could make more money waitressing. She helped out at the Flow’s Grocery Store and stocked shelves for the new Safeway on Burnet Road. She and George ventured into the world of restaurant ownership by opening Sherrill’s Inn café (now Billy’s on Burnet) located at the corner of Burnet Rd. and Hancock. She also spent several years working as a seasonal employee at the IRS prior to her 23 years of service working at the US post office.

Christine met her husband, George, while working for Arno and Dessie Vogelpohl at the Shanty (now IronWorks), a Bar-B-Que and beer joint, located at 1st and Red River. Christine and George were married in Houston on February 16, 1957. They settled in the Crestview neighborhood in Austin where they raised their 4 children: Stephen, Dessie, Kristie, and Rodney.

Christine worked hard to help provide for her children and give them a stable living environment. She taught them about Jesus, led them in bedtime prayers, and took them to weekly Sunday School at Crestview Baptist in Austin. She assisted in preschool Sunday School for several years. She sewed costumes for tiny tots, dance recitals, twirling competitions, and badges on scout sashes. She transported her children to activities and attended their sporting events, recitals, and band concerts. She also assisted with both Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Christine and George enjoyed their golden years pursuing the country life in Dale, Texas for almost 30 years. She enjoyed flower gardening and family gatherings as well as cooking, sewing, and watching birds. She loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her friendship class at Lockhart Baptist Church. Christine and George spent many years volunteering at the Lockhart Senior Center and delivering meals to seniors.

Christine was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, George; her parents, Stephen and Lela Smith; her siblings Ruby, Eldridge, and Jay.

She is survived by her sister Elnora Swearingen, brother-in-law William Sherrill, four children and their spouses, Steve Sherrill (Amanda), Dessie Sherrill, Kristie Sherrill Hoskins, and Rodney Sherrill; 6 grandchildren, Ashley Sherrill Ellis (Michael), Matthew Sherrill, Kristin Hoskins Gutweiler (Wesley), Calvin Hoskins, Hunter Sherrill and Lana Sherrill; 2 great-grandsons, Bodhi Gutweiler and Renner Ellis.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the HealthSense Hospice team, especially Amanda Amaya, Jennifer Noble and Joyce Estelle.

Christine’s modest and loving nature will be missed by all of her family and friends, but we know she is at peace now, as well as George is happy to see his bride once again!