Sherrell Ann Scism was born in Greenville, Texas on July 18th,1940. Her parents were William Stanford and Ruby Newman Stanford. Both of her parents had previously been married and a late in life pregnancy meant that she was born in to a family with 3 other grown siblings. Brothers Quincy Byrd, Edwin Byrd and sister Benny Pickens. Two years after her birth her baby sister Nancy Stanford was born.
As a little girl she loved taking care of her baby sister and playing mom to her. Their daddy built a large playhouse for them to spend many hours playing make believe with their many dolls and toys. Her doll collection grew over the years including into adulthood and she especially cherished her collection of rare dolls with heads made of china and porcelain.
She was an excellent student and after completing elementary school attended San Marcos High School where she was a consistent “A” student.
Gifted with a beautiful singing voice she sang solo’s in church. She was also selected to sing in her high school chorus as a freshmen even though the policy, up til then, was that no one could join the chorus until their sophomore year. However the choir master knew she was a special talent and convinced the school principal to make an exception making her not only the youngest member but at only 4 feet 11 inches tall also the shortest member of the chorus.
Although short in stature she was big in talent and personality and was a popular student with many friends. Always smiling and encouraging to others
she was a great flag twirler in the high school band’s Royal Guard.
While attending Calvary Baptist Church in her home town of San Marcos, Texas she met a tall good looking young man from Cherryville, North Carolina who was serving at the nearby Air Force base. Ralph F. Scism Jr. had been looking for a church to attend while he was stationed there but ended up finding much more.
Enchanted by this pretty young lady with the lovely singing voice they soon started to date and eventually married on August 10th, 1956 at 8pm in the same church where they had met.
Reverend John Cole Jr. conducted the ceremony. Because her favorite color was blue she bucked the traditional long white gown of most young brides and decided on a below the knee blue lace dress with a bouquet of white gladioli. The songs performed were “ The Lord’s Prayer” and “Because”. Both the groom and bride were so young at the time they each needed to get written permission from their respective parents to marry. Luckily the grooms parents,Ralph and Maude Scism, and the brides parents both fully supported the marriage and agreed. This support was rewarded by a long-lasting 67 years of marriage and a lifetime of love and caring between the two families which still holds today.
The young couple got their first apartment and spent only a month there when Ralph was transferred to a new post. Unfortunately his new post was to Greenland. A place that his young bride could not go to with him. She moved back into her parents house and two months later discovered that she was pregnant with their first child. With Ralph still in Greenland she spent the majority of her pregnancy with only the constant exchange of love letters to sustain her. In her 8th month Ralph was granted a one week furlough to go back home before going back to Greenland to finish his assignment. 3 weeks after he returned to Greenland their first son Gary Allen Scism was born on June 20th, 1957.
The young couple was soon transferred to Hunter Air Force base in Savanah, Georgia. It was a rough time financially for the young couple with one baby and one on the way and years later they recalled that Thanksgiving dinner that year consisted of a can of beans and a can of cranberry sauce. Instead of feeling sorry for themselves they just found it amusing and laughed at the situation. Through the years whenever there were hard times they always got through by saying “ Well at least we have more than a can of beans and cranberry sauce. “
On November 12th, 1958 their second son David Wayne Scism was born. Unfortunately on the day he was born there had been an airplane crash and the base went into lockdown and Ralph could not leave to get to hospital was until several hours later. To his relief he found both wife and son were doing well and a new chapter of their lives began.
Now a family of four was transferred from Savannah to Massachusetts for the next several years.
The next transfer sent Ralph to the Philippines for the next two years. Unfortunately his wife and two young sons were not allowed to go with him for the first year and Sherrell and her two young boys moved back in to her parents home who were by now living in Austin, Texas. One year later the family was reunited in the Philippines and on April 9th, 1967 the family was completed with the birth of their beautiful daughter Michele Rene Scism.
In 1968 the Air Force transferred the family to Luke Air Force base in Phoenix, Arizona. This move stuck and became their permanent home for the next 50 years plus.
Ralph retired from the military after 23 years, got a real-estate license then began another job path working for the State of Arizona in land acquisitions.
Meanwhile Sherrell worked in office management in the medical and dental fields.
Their hobbies of boating, fishing, camping and traveling took up most of their weekends and they spent many years exploring and enjoying the South Western portion of the United States. They also had their individual hobbies with Ralph playing drums, woodworking and simulated flying and Sherrell enjoying flower arranging, cake decorating and painting. They also enjoyed the many wonderful dinners and holidays spent with their best friends Jim and Janet.
Their son Gary has made them grandparents with the births of his children, daughter Melissa and son Christopher. Now they are the proud great grandparents to Dominick, Anthony, Ryder, Liam, Sadie and Luke who they love and adore.
In 2022 after health challenges necessitated a move for more care Ralph and Sherrell decided to make the move across the country to Greenwood, Arkansas and established a beautiful small home on the property of their granddaughter Melissa and husband Josh. With the great grandkids around and the frequent visitation of their children and spouses, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends the move has been a God send.
They have been surrounded by love and feel blessed. Special thank you’s to those who have been so gracious and given so much especially in the recent weeks. Josh, Terrill, Rick please know how much you are loved and appreciated. And the 3 angels Michele, Melissa and Nancy Beth who tirelessly and unselfishly gave everything they had and more to help in the transitioning from this world to the next. Love is too small a word to express all that your care and dedication encompass.
Sherrell’s genuine goodness and care for others throughout her entire life as well as her smile, her frequent joyous laugh have made an impact that will never be forgotten.
The love of two young people that endured challenges and hardships and overcame it all for almost 70 years is the true manifestation of a life well-lived and an inspiration to all.
Until we all get to Heaven rest in Peace our beautiful, sweet angel.
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