Jeanne Ann Sherrill

Jeanne Ann Taylor Sherrill died Monday, March 9th 2020 at her home in Grants Pass, Oregon.
Jeanne was born May 28, 1941 to Paul and Juanita Taylor in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

As a child, Jeanne loved to run and ride horses. She attended Madalene Catholic School in Tulsa. Unfortunately, Jeanne was stricken with polio and severe asthma when she was still quite young. She received treatment as a live-in patient at Children’s Medical Center for a big part of her childhood, her mother at her side every day. She suffered from the pain and fear of learning how to walk again, well into her teen years. We believe these trials and tribulations prepared her for an extraordinary life.

Jeanne graduated from Marquette Catholic High School in 1959. She married Gary Sherrill, Sr. soon after. After being told she would not be able to have children due to her issues with polio, she gave birth to Linda, Gary and Diane.

Jeanne had an entrepreneurial spirit. She assisted her second husband, C.B. Sherrill with their real estate business and toyed with the idea of opening a BBQ restaurant. In 1984, Jeanne and her son Gary founded Sherrill Outdoor Advertising, a billboard company in the northeastern Oklahoma area. Jeanne would continue to run this business from Oregon as sole owner until her death.

Jeanne was a beautiful, intelligent God-fearing woman who prayed for her family and friends daily. She instilled in her children her good values and raised them all to be kind, caring adults. She had a beautiful voice and encouraged her children to sing. She was a fighter and determined, her physical limitations invisible to those who knew her. Jeanne loved fast cars, fast boats, and airplanes. She loved to take her boat out on any lake, any time. She also loved Oklahoma Sooners football. She was known for her elaborate OU football watch parties. Jeanne attended many OU Orange Bowl games. She was always up for a road trip to Florida to watch the Sooners play or to visit family in Texas. At Christmas, everyone looked forward to delicious “Jeanne fudge”. Jeanne had a very funny sense of humor and was always the life of the party.

In 1997, Jeanne rekindled her relationship with her high school sweetheart, Bob Colee. In 1999, she and Bob moved to Oregon along with her daughters and their families. Jeanne loved living in Oregon, raising her garden and helping to take care of the myriad of animals her and Bob had on their land. She enjoyed living close to her daughters, most of her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She had a very close relationship with all of them.

We will miss her unconditional love, support, and daily phones calls to see if we are doing okay or tell us a funny joke.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents, sister Joann Pickering, C.B. Sherrill and infant grandsons London Durr and Jordan Sherrill.

She is survived by her children, Linda Sherrill Nichols of Grants Pass, OR, Gary Sherrill (Tracy) of Tulsa, OK, and Diane Sherrill Hogan (Michael) of Eagle Point, OR, her life partner Bob Colee of Grants Pass, Or, his children, Sara Collee of Charlotte NC, and Michael Colee of Bartlesville, Ok, grandchildren Brandon Durr, Heath Durr (Kecia), Taylor Brown, Afton Towry, Andrew Sherrill, Jacob Sherrill and 5 great grandchildren, Danyeal, Gabriel, Melody, Bailey, and London Paige.

We will love and miss her always.

Due to Covid 19, services are pending.