Sherryl Sue Mcavoy

Sherryl was born March 23, 1949 in St. Joseph, Mo. to Harry and Irene Kephart. She grew up in St. Joe where she attended Central High School. There she participated as a dancer in musical plays, her favorite being Oklahoma. She also participated in dance and piano recitals.

Following her graduation in 1967, she attended Drake University in Des Moines for one year and transferred to Northwest Missouri State University to continue her college studies. It was at Northwest that she met her future husband, Jon, in a Social Dance class.

They were married September 6th, 1969 at Brookdale Presbyterian Church in St. Joe, Sherryl’s home church.

They moved to Des Moines where Jon had taken a job at Bankers Life (now Principal). Her job search led her to the Register & Tribune Syndicate a block from where Jon worked. At the Syndicate she became secretary to the President of the company which allowed her to meet prominent customers such as Bil Keane who drew The Family Circus and Stan Lee of Spiderman fame.

On March 14th, 1976, Sherryl became the mother of twins, Sean and Megan. She had learned she would have twins only 3 days before they were born!

On July 1, 1978 they moved to Adel where they have remained since. Sherryl was very active in the community. Her first introduction to volunteering in Adel was acting as secretary of the board for the Adel Childcare Center which was newly developed and run as a non-profit center open to all members of the community. She also assisted in the Adel Food Pantry and served as Treasurer for many years. When her kids were school age, she “retired” from the Syndicate so that she could be home for them and began volunteering for the schools her children attended. She was also a very active member of the Adel Federates Club.

Sherryl loved her church, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines where she was a member for 47 years. There she enjoyed membership in the Presbyterian Women’s club where she organized an annual craft fair as a fundraiser open to the community. She enjoyed marketing her own crafts including many items made by her dad. A top priority was her Rose mauling. She was named “Small Group Coordinator” for the congregation. She also taught Bible studies for many years on both Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Anyone who took her class knew she was a wealth of knowledge when it came to the Bible and Bible history.

She later became an avid scrap booker, putting together family pictures in over 50 books.

She loved spending time with her kids and later her grandkids. Everyone who knew her, knew her “sass”, which was all in fun.

Left to grieve are her husband, Jon of 54 years, her son Sean (Chris) and their kids Cynnava and Grayson, and her daughter Megan and her kids Kellan, Braedon, and McKenna.

The family thanks the staff at Lakeside Village and the Hospice of the Midwest for their support in the last few months of Sherryl’s life. Your kindness and love no doubt meant the world to her.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution can be made to the Presbyterian Women of Westminster Presbyterian church in Des Moines.