Sharon (Sherry) Ann Reilly, peacefully and surrounded by family, passed from this life on October 15, 2022, at St. Anthony’s hospital in St Petersburg, Florida. Sherry was born on September 22, 1951, at St. Joseph’s hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Jeanne and Lavern Reilly (both deceased).
Because Sherry’s father served in the US Air Force, Sherry moved to new Air Force bases during her family’s early years. She lived in Chandler, Arizona; Selma, Alabama; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and finally, in 1963, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. In 1966, Sherry’s father received orders to report for service in Vietnam. After a mission, he did not return to base when expected; he was listed as MIA and later declared KIA.
As a person with disabilities, Sherry continued to move forward under her mom’s care. When Mom’s health declined many years later, Sherry moved to Destin Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, and after Mom’s passing (2005), to Bon Secours Maria Manor in St. Petersburg. In both nursing homes, Sherry embraced every opportunity to interact with her community and find ways to help out, like delivering residents’ mail. Sherry’s feelings of connection and contribution bloomed even more when she worked at Horizons of Okaloosa County in Ft. Walton Beach and Harvest House Food Pantry & Thrift Shop in Destin. It was at Harvest House that she received the encouragement and support to publish her book, The Adventures of Mickey & Molly, which celebrated her heart dog, Mickey.
Her favorite free-time activities were around the game table: Bingo-for-Bucks was her favorite, with Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Solitaire, Bejeweled, and Word Search getting special call-outs. Sherry loved music and sang in the choir. Her favorite song was, “You are my sunshine.” When activities quieted down, Sherry loved laughing at an “I Love Lucy” rerun and, even more, binge laughing through multiple reruns in one sitting.
Sherry was Jeanne and Lavern’s second child. Sherry’s older sibling is Mary Reilly Lajoie. In the six years following Sherry’s birth, she welcomed three more siblings into her family, Kathleen Marie Reilly-Olson, Patricia Louise Reilly White, and Robert John Reilly.
Sherry’s family tree further expanded with her siblings’ marriages to Steven F. Lajoie, Michael L. Olson, James L. White, and Leonora C. (Tina) Reilly; then with nephews and nieces, John Ray Johnson Jr., James Robert Johnson, William Allen Henderson III, David Reilly Henderson, Benjamin Conrad Olson, Kelly Jeanne Henderson, Sean Lavern Reilly, Christopher Reilly Gibson, Kevin Michael Reilly, and Rebecca Colleen Reilly; and finally with grand nephews and grand nieces, Elise Wren Johnson, Leah Jeanne Johnson, Reilly Sean Henderson, Shane Carl Henderson, Graysen Reilly Henderson, Isabella Marie Henderson, Mia Nicole Reilly, Cooper Reilly Johnson (deceased), Aidan Lucas Reilly, and Caleb Owen Reilly. Sherry lives on in these family members, as well as in her beloved surviving aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Sherry loved her family with all her might. Life was better when she could connect with family. Sherry demonstrated her unwavering love of her family members by teasing her nephews and nieces from their early years to the end, treasuring her place at holiday celebrations, knitting afghans for all those in need of a warm hug, and being the keeper of family birthdays and Sunday “long distance” phone calls.
Sherry loved people, enriched many lives, was always the best daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend. Also a great sport, she was willing to try anything. We miss hearing her saying her key phrases: “So, what’s going on?” “Give me a break,” “Oh, brother,” “Do you want a knuckle sandwich?” “Next time you come, would you bring me some Diet Coke/Sprite?” and (maybe her favorite) “If you don’t call me, I’ll call you on Sunday.”
Sherry was a positive spirit, had her mom’s exceptional sense of humor, and always had a smile and a hug to welcome and warm our hearts. Her philosophies on life included these gems: Take it one day at a time. Never give up because you can often beat the experts. Reach out to family and friends. When you’re sad, stay busy. And most importantly, work extra hard to see and know the person—not their disability.
The family gathered with friends for visitation at Veterans Funeral Care, 830 N. Belcher Rd., Clearwater, FL 33760 on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. On Monday, November 7, 2022, the day before interment, a visitation is planned at Davis Watkins Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Rd NE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 at 4:00 to 5:30 PM. On November 8, 2022 at 11:00 AM, a graveside service will be held at the Jessie Rogers Memorial Cemetery with Father Doug Halsema of St. Mary Church officiating.
The family would like to thank the healthcare workers at Destin Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Bon Secours Maria Manor, and Aventura at the Bay for their years of committed compassionate care of Sherry, our dear sister, sister-in-law, aunt, and great aunt.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in Sherry’s name to one of these organizations that positively touched her life: St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation, StAnthonysFoundation.org/donate , Horizons of Okaloosa County ARCEmeraldCoast.org and Harvest House Food Pantry & Thrift Shop HarvestHouseDestin.org
(updated 11/3)
