Sherry Lynn Lowell: 1948 – 2023
Passed away unexpectedly Thursday January 12, 2023 at her home; age 74 years.
Sherry Schmandt was born on September 11, 1948 in Saginaw, MI to the late Roy and Marilyn Schmandt. She was married to her best friend and partner in adventure Roy Lowell on December 14, 1968; he predeceased her on October 21, 2018.
She is survived by her one son Bret (Dawn) Lowell of Aurora, CO, her one daughter Landi (Joshua Geiser) Lowell of Gillette, WY; three grandchildren, Lance Lowell, Bradley Halloran, and Ella Halloran; one brother Stephen (Nila) Schmandt; one sister-in-law Jean Jensen and many nieces and nephews. Sherry was preceded in death by brother Russell Schmandt.
Sherry was a past student and member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Millington, MI. She graduated valedictorian of her Millington High School class of 1966 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Michigan State University in 1970.
She started her career as an Extension Home Economist for the Cooperative Extension Office serving across Tuscola County and Flint, Michigan.
In 1978 she joined General Motors working at AC Spark Plug, completing her Apprenticeship she became one of General Motors few female Journeyman Toolmakers.
After retirement from GM, Sherry returned to school and received her Master of Science degree in Administration from Central Michigan University in 2002. Sherry was a servant leader to her community that often placed others ahead of herself. Sherry was elected President of the Millington Board of Education and was a member of the Michigan School Board Association.
Sherry co-authored a popular 230-page book that is still being reprinted by the Millington-Arbela Historical Society; The History of Millington Schools and its First 100 High School Graduating Classes. She also co-authored Phase II Apprentice Training Program Manual for toolroom trades.
Sherry was active with the Order of the Eastern Star Vienna Chapter in Clio, Michigan and Gentian Chapter in Gillette Wyoming where she served as past Worthy Matron and past Grand Ruth in Wyoming. Sherry was also the current Treasurer on the board at the Rockpile Museum in Gillette Wyoming. Sherry served as President of the League of Women Voters in Gillette, Wyoming championing women’s rights.
And, of course, she was a Superfan of her children and grandchildren. Along with Roy, the pair never missed a grandparents’ day whether that meant driving to Indiana or Denver.Sherry was also entrepreneurial, engaging with the family to start many successful businesses including Motorhome Rentals of Clio, Platinum Sound Wave DJ, On the Level Construction, and Wyoming Craftsmen.
Sherry also contracted as an instructor at Baker College, as a manager in Concrete Construction, and as a Real Estate appraiser.
Funeral services will take place on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Millington, 4941 W. Center St. Rev. Jim Bruner will officiate.
For those unable to attend the funeral in person, a live stream will be available at https://www.stpaul-millington.org/stream.html.
Burial to take place in Thetford Twp Cemetery. Sherry’s family will receive visitors at the Cederberg Funeral Home in Frankenmuth, MI on Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service and again after the commitment at the parish hall at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Millington.
A memorial in Gillette, Wyoming is being planned with a date to be announced.
Sherry was a dynamic, intelligent and sincere woman who was a blessing to her family and friends. She will be missed on this earth, until our Savior’s return.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider donations to either the League of Women’s Voters of Campbell County c/o Judith Semple, 4207 Tepee St, Gillette, WY 82718; or the Rockpile Museum Association, 900 W Second St, Gillette, WY 82716.
Please sign our guest book or share an online condolence with the family at www.cederbergfh.com.
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Zeta Mercella Elizabeth Menzies Beeson: July 24, 1934 — January 11, 2023
Mass of Chrisitian Burial for Mercella Beeson will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 20, 2023 at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church with Father Steven Titus officiating.
Visitaion will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Thursday, January 19, 2023 at Gillette Memorial Chapel with Rosary to begin at 6:00 p.m.
Zeta Mercella Elizabeth Menzies Beeson was born to Edwin and Elna Menzies on July 24, 1934, in Belize. She was the first girl after six boys, two of whom died in infancy.
Her mother later gave birth to three more girls.
Mercella loved her family very much and she was much loved by them. They kept in close contact with each other. At baptism, Mercella was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and later in life she made her consecration to Our Lady. She had great devotion to Our Blessed Lady and enjoyed praying her daily rosary.
One of the happiest days in her life was the day she first received Our Lord in the Eucharist, and was confirmed that afternoon receiving the name, Mary, at age seven.
At an early age, she left her beloved family and homeland to come to the United States to answer God’s call and joined the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family, a teaching order.
She loved teaching, no matter what age- infant to adulthood. She obtained her BA in Education at the College of Mt. St. Joseph in Ohio; and her MA in English at Loyola University in Los Angeles, California; and her MRE, at Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Years later, due to ill health she requested and obtained dispensation to leave the Holy Family Order. She returned to her family, then in New York. Because of her love for learning and teaching, she continued to teach in the Catholic School System, and also began helping the elderly in San Diego, CA.
When she gave up teaching, she became a Certified Nursing Assistant and worked fulltime in the medical field. While living in San Diego, she and Thomas Beeson, now deceased, met and later were married in a concelebrated Mass at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church.
In 1995, three years later, they moved to Gillette, WY. Here, Mercella worked at Hospice, Pioneer Manor, Home Health, Campbell County Memorial Hospital, Gillette College Campus (in ESL program), Campbell County Jail (in Outreach Teaching Program), and the last ten years, before retiring, she worked at Dr. A. Bagnarello’s Medical Clinic as a Medical Assistant/ Secretary.
Mercella was always happy when helping others. Above all, she was most happy when attending daily Mass and receiving Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. She began attending daily Mass on her own at the age of nine, and on days when the weather was unfavorable or because of illness, Our Lord came to her in the Holy Eucharist, thanks to the extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
Mercella was active in her church at St. Matthew’s Catholic Community where she volunteered as a Lector, and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Hospital Ministry, and Homebound Ministry, bringing the Eucharist to the sick. She also worked with the Thanksgiving and Christmas Teams helping those in need.
She loved to sing and praise God with all she had during the Eucharistic Celebrations. She sang in the English and Bilingual Choirs.
Her favorite hobbies were reading, sewing, crocheting, doing plastic canvas craft, and camping in the Big Horn Mountains, with her husband Thomas, and their dog, Taffy. She loved keeping in touch with her relatives and friends by phone, and by mail at Christmas.
Four years after the death of her husband, Thomas, Mercella moved to Florida to be with her family in 2019. She resided with her niece, Debra, and her nephew-in-law, Edmund Hulse for little over a year.
She returned home to Gillette in February 2021.
Mercella is preceded in death by parents; her husband, Thomas V. Beeson; brothers, Eddie, Stephen, Karl, and Henry Menzies; two youngest sisters, Anna K. Morales and Rita Mae Bolan; four adult nephews, and one adult grand-niece.
She is survived by her younger sister, Edith M. Koehler, forty-two nieces and nephews, and a host of grandnieces and grandnephews. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to benefit a scholarship for St. John Paul II Catholic School, for needy students, in the name of “Menzies-Beeson”. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716.
Condolences may be expressed at ww.gillettememorialchapel.com
