Shearon Doris Charlton's Obituary
Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin-top:0in;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-para-margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}A Tender Heart and A Giving SpiritShearon Dorris Charlton was placed on this earth to share her generosity and joy of life with everyone she met. She was born on January 9, 1949 in Nashville, Tennessee. Her parents, Edwin Tillman and Hazel Dorris Charlton, encouraged her independent spirit from an early age, along with her voracious appetite for reading and intellectual pursuits. Sherry was keenly interested in everything that inspired her Dad. They spent hours together sorting and collecting coins, hunting and fishing with Pat (the dog) and revelling in stories about Edwin’s experiences in WWII. She shared secrets with her Dad about many hunting adventures and mishaps that would have alarmed her mother, “Miss Hazel”. One of Sherry’s most prized possessions was a WWII-era machine gun from her Dad’s collection. Truly One of a Kind Sherry grew up nurturing an extremely wide variety of interests and hobbies, balancing the curiosity of a cat with a quest for mastery that made her excel at everything she put her mind to accomplish. Her creative flair became apparent er creativeHin High School in Tennessee, where she played the clarinet in the school band and brought audiences to their feet with dramatic poetry readings. At the same time, she was a worthy debate team member who won every contest she entered. Her sharp sense of humor was piqued by peculiar words, puns and witty language; she held fast to her guiding principle to never laugh at the expense of others. Sherry made friends easily and valued her relationships. Throughout her life, she would maintain contact with the many friends she made in High School as an alumni association ringleader. Mathematics and Other HorrorsA major achievement for Sherry was earning her degree from the Tennessee Technological University. She started out in the Engineering Department – a discipline not particularly welcoming to women in 1970 – and graduated with a Math major. With a BA and teaching credentials, Sherry moved to Alabama to embark on a teaching career. She taught all subjects including Math and found that she was especially effective with middle school students. Ms. Charlton was “cool” and fun and had a special way of motivating students to rise to every challenge. When Sherry left the teaching profession, she opted for a public service career with the State of Tennessee. For 30 years, she held Statistician and other analytical roles within the Departments of Labor and Workforce Development, Employment Security and Children’s Services. On the side, she maintained her habit of avidly consuming literature and all forms of the written word. She became an excellent writer with published work to her credit. On a completely different side, Sherry was a huge fan of the horror genre: movies, books, storytelling and annual conventions. She loved mingling with the actors, writers and make-up artists that brought her favorite stories to life. All Creatures Great and SmallSherry loved the outdoors. She always travelled in comfort: blue jeans and boots, sweats and sneakers, shorts and flip flops. Her height and long blond hair flowing from under a cowboy hat made her stand out in a crowd. With her father’s influence, she became a crack-shot with a gun and amassed an impressive collection of firearms. Yet she loved animals even more. Over the years she took care of numerous goats, pigs, horses and, at last count, sixteen cats. Her pets all sported quirky names and personalities to match. She would regale friends with stories of how one of her dogs was afraid of Jell-o, and how Virginia Hamm, the pig, instigated Sherry’s only brush with the law. For many years, she was active in the Saddle Club, travelling and working with her horses: Shadowfax, Cracker Jack, Micky and BC. Sherry became known as a great resource when it came to giving shots, doctoring the horses and stepping in for vets when she was needed. Don’t Get Your Tinsel In A TangleAs good a life’s motto as any, Sherry transformed this piece of practical advice, “don’t get your tinsel in a tangle”, into a cross-stitch work of art for her lifelong friend Brenda Sue. Sherry had a gift for making people feel special. She gave her full attention to her friends and accepted them completely. She could strike up a conversation with anyone and instantly create rapport. She could make her friend Dot laugh out loud with just one arched eyebrow. Sherry could make you laugh one moment or frighten you with a ghoulish horror story on Halloween – her very favorite holiday. She held particular affection for the story of the Great Pumpkin. Ride On, SisterHer talents went far beyond math, animals and the world of the macabre; she excelled in woodworking, house building, arts and crafts, painting, jewelry making, embroidery, crewel, and cross-stitch, among others. Her home was a reflection of all of her passions combined, filled to capacity with collections of books, coins, firearms, horror film memorabilia and Halloween trinkets. Sherry was a real source of inspiration to many people over the years. To her family, friends and students, she embodied the values of loyalty and perseverance. She had a smile that could melt an iceberg and was happiest when she could be of service. Even when she was facing physical challenges that limited her mobility, she maintained a strong positive outlook. “Be that as it may,” she would often say to introduce an encouraging counter-thought, or “Life is too short not to laugh.” Her many friends will miss those words of optimism. Sherry passed away on June 15, 2012 in her home in Springfield, Tennessee. At just 63 years of age, she was ready to join both of her parents on another spiritual plane. Ride on, Sherry.
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