Our beautiful mother and grandmother left this earth on Feb. 17, 2018, following a nine-year journey with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 79 years old. Sherian was an only child, born in Hoquiam, Wash. to John and Evelyn Klimek on July 16, 1938. She graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1956, attended Western Washington University for one year, then moved to Seattle. There she met Ronald McCormack; they married in 1960 and over the next three years became parents to Susan, Tracy, and Barry. The young family settled first in Kent, Wash., and later moved to Renton.
Sheri was part of perhaps the last generation to embrace homemaking as a career. For 18 years, she devoted herself to her home and family and was always involved in their activities. She did rejoin the workforce for six years at Seattle Lighting Fixture Company to fund her daughters’ college educations. She kept close ties with her Hoquiam roots, visiting her parents frequently and maintaining friendships that went as far back as kindergarten. She enjoyed gardening, bingo, clam digging, bowling, and dancing, and was a member of Xi Gamma Rho chapter of Beta Sigma Phi for several years.
After the death of son Barry in 1988, Sheri and Ron moved to Huntsville, Ala. for two years. Sheri enjoyed the slower pace of the South and trips they took to New Orleans, Gulf Shores, and Nashville. But she was glad to return to Renton, now a grandmother, a role she took to with great joy. Sheri and Ron also continued to travel often to the beach, Reno, and Hawaii.
In early 2009, Sheri was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Unable to remain at home, she became a resident at Aegis of Kent, where Ron visited her nearly every day until his death in 2014. The staff at Aegis has been our extended family and we cannot ever thank them enough for everything they have done for us all. We would also like to acknowledge Sandra Gracia of Franciscan Hospice and massage therapist, Melinda Morrison, who brought her great comfort.
Sheri is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Susan and Paul Mitchell and Tracy and Jay Dyson, and grandchildren Allison and Griffin Mitchell.
Graveside service will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park in Renton, March 9, 2018, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association or charity of your choice.
