In Memory

Sheryl Carr

Sheryl Carr

In memory of Sheryl Lynn Carr.

Sheryl Lynn Carr was born in the early morning hours of June 3, 1954 in Amarillo, Texas, at the old Northwest Texas Hospital to loving parents Bob H. Carr and Nell “Little Bit” Carr.  After the birth, Bob left the hospital and picked up son Mike who was being cared for by Nell’s sister Helen and her family. Before they went to the hospital, Bob took the boy to the Chevrolet dealership and traded in the old family car for a brand new 1954 Chevrolet Belair coupe in two tone Horizon Blue body and India Ivory top. Leaving the Chevrolet dealership the two would get haircuts at the local barbershop where Bob handed out cigars to all. With one final stop before returning to the hospital, Bob bought two new Stetson hats, one for himself and one for Mike. Freshly shorn and newly hatted they walked into the hospital to greet their new daughter-sister and a very tired wife-mother. Different times, certainly, but worth noting nevertheless.

Sheryl would grow into an inquisitive child with a thirst for reading and knowledge in general. In 1959 the family would move to San Antonio, Texas when Bob was transferred from Pantex to the old Medina Air Force Base complex. In San Antonio, Sheryl attended Baskin Elementary School where she honed her love for books. In summer when the school library would close she and her mother would walk every Saturday morning to the parking lot at Baskin to stand in line for the book mobile. Over the course of a week she would read two and sometimes three or four new books. Sheryl read books like “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeline L’Engle, “We Have Always Lived in The Castle” by Shirley Jackson, and “Nutshell Library” by Maurice Sendak. In the fall of 1964, Sheryl then 10 years old became politically active. She and her family would gather round the family TV set each night and watch the news and the political conventions. Sheryl early on decided she was a Johnson girl, and that fall every afternoon after school she would grab several yard signs and not return home until she had placed her “All The Way With LBJ” signs in front yards throughout the Balcones Heights neighborhood the family lived in. In 1965 Bob was transferred back to Pantex and the family returned to Amarillo. Sheryl enrolled at Ridgecrest Elementary school down the block from her family’s new home. After elementary school Sheryl matriculated at Crockett Middle School and graduated in 1971 from Tascosa High School. She went onto study at West Texas State University earning her BA in history in 1975. Traveling to the UK in 1976, Sheryl developed a keen interest in English history as well as US history. On November 17, 1979 she married Terry Dawson in front of family and friends in her parents living room. The marriage didn’t take as the saying goes, and they divorced. Sheryl at the time was teaching US History at Horace Mann middle School and would make this her life’s work. Dedicated to her students, she was never prouder when one would return to her class toting a college diploma. She taught at Horace Mann until her retirement.

As would most American girls growing up in the 1960’s Sheryl grew fond of rock and roll music and was smitten by the British invasion. The Beatles were her favorite group and she was especially fond of John Lennon. She especially loved the song “Blackbird”.

"Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these sunken eyes and learn to see

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly

Blackbird fly

Into the light of the dark black night

Blackbird fly

Blackbird fly

Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

You were only waiting for this moment to arise."

Sheryl was preceded in death by loving parents, Bob. H. in 2007 and Nell “Little Bit” in 2001. She is survived by her brother Michael, his wife Kathleen of Lake Toxaway, NC, and their son, her nephew William of Los Angeles, CA. The family would like to especially thank those very close and dear friends of Sheryl who looked after her needs these past few years.

 

As you think back on Sheryl’s life think of her as that Johnson girl in 1964 not coming home to supper until she convinced neighbors to place those yard signs. In lieu of memorials the family and her close friends would ask that you make contributions to The American Cancer Society and pray this insidious disease be eradicated from the face of the earth.

OBITUARY IN AMARILLO GLOBE NEWS:

Sheryl Lynn Carr

June 3, 1954 - February 24, 2017

Sheryl Lynn Carr, 62, of Amarillo passed away on Friday, February 24, 2017 after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, March 4, 2017 at LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Coulter Road Chapel with Pastor Ken Cole of St. Stephen United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements are by LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Funeral Directors, 8310 S. Coulter.

Sheryl was born on June 3, 1954 to Bob and Nell Carr. Sheryl dedicated her life to teaching and retired after a long career from Horace Mann Middle School.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her long time companion Don Alexander; a brother, Michael Carr and wife Kathleen, and their son, William.

The family asks that memorials be made in her name to the American Cancer Society so this horrendous disease may someday be eradicated.

 



 
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02/26/17 08:27 AM #1    

Kim Barlow

Rest in peace sweet friend!


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