Sherry Anita Sanders

At noon on Saturday, April 29, Jesus wrapped his arms around our beloved Sherry A. Howell Sanders to join the heavenly choir. Her life was filled with music, family, circle of friends and community, i.e. clubs and organizations. Sherry’s career started with working several years in the Sander’s business, and then spent 14 years at the Nevada Test Site, Area 51, and Tonopah Test Range, as a certified land surveyor with Local 12 Operating Engineers Union. She enrolled at UNLV and completed her teaching degrees, including a Bachelor and Master’s of Education with emphasis in Special Education. Sherry true passion was spent teaching Special Education at Green Valley and Eldorado HS for Clark County School District for 23 years.

Sherry’s outstanding community service includes; over ten as a Boy Scout leader and coordinator, church choir director, Tonopah’s Jim Butler Day parade assistant, and the only female railroad spike driver champion. In her time in Tonopah and Las Vegas she drove school bus, helping Spanish speaking children with lessons and language on the long journey home; she took college classes, participated in Rendezvous pioneer days, attending the Elko Cowboy Poetry Gathering for 15 years and other community events.

Sherry traveled Nevada with her Boy Scout Troop on many camping ventures. On these campouts she made hundreds of hot dogs, pancakes and pots of chili, teaching and singing camp songs. Her troop traveled to Washington DC to take part in the National Take Pride in America ceremony as Nevada winners.

Sherry was very generous to family, students, friends, and community. She loved Native American history, bead work, jewelry, pottery, flute music, drumming, rocks, Jewish and American history and reading. Sherry made leather Christmas ornaments, stockings, beaded bags and a western beaver hat for herself. She could also play the Native American flute, drum and the Hawaiian Ukulele. Sherry dearly loved her home state of Nevada, writing many poems about its diverse beauty.

Sherry was born on May 18, 1954 at Nellis AFB to Bobby C. and Earnestine Dotson Howell. She is predeceased by husband Dion Sanders, father Bobby C. Howell, Grandmother Kathryn Howell. She is survived by mother, Earnestine Howell, siblings, Teri Howell of Oak City, UT, Bobbie Ann and Richard Howell of Las Vegas, estranged son Billy Joe Sanders, and many family members. Thanks for the gift of many precious memories.

Services at Palm Northwest Chapel, 6701 N Jones Blvd on Friday, May 19, 2023, Viewing 2 – 5 p.m., Service at 5 p.m. Reception at 6 p.m.

Sherry will be laid to rest in Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89131.

The Blue Bird Sings by SA Sanders 8/25/23

The Rocky Mt. Blue Bird sings her song

Of the pion, the sage and days long gone,

Days of silver and gold and cooper,

And beautiful sunsets that are show stoppers

Night skies filled with bright stars,

Of majestic mountains seen from afar,

All these the Blue Bird sings

Nevada, the land of my dreams

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmnorthwest.com for the Sanders family.