Obituary of Sherry L. Barker

Sherry Lee Barker, age 61, of Deep Gap, formerly of Ashe County, passed away Sunday, March 13, 2016 at her residence. Born March 6, 1955 in Ashe County, she was a daughter of Thomas and Ora Harris Barker. Sherry accomplished so many goals during her short time on earth. Sherry was a graduate of Beaver Creek High School in 1973, then from Wilkes Community College in 1986 with an associate degree in horticulture. There was a saying everyone knew so well�she could bring a dead plant back to life. She had many jobs, but the most important was a stay at home mom. No, she did not sit around between Cheerleading, Basketball, Softball, Band and Girl Scouts. She was always on the go. An article in the Jefferson Post honored her with �The Garden in the Sky� award. It mentioned Sherry�s 13,000 square flower beds and her 16 foot fish pond. She worked constantly to maintain her beds and her many farm animals that she considered her other children. Sherry continued working in gardens centers and other flower gardens that needed her love. She most recently worked at Lowes Hardware in Boone where she continued to share her knowledge of plants, and graced others with her great people loving personality. Over the years, Sherry has �adopted many, many children� that all called her Momma. She was an amazing mom to three daughters and sons-in-law, and an even more Amazing Mamaw to her grandsons and future granddaughter. Surviving are her three daughters, Jessica Vannoy and husband, Scott, of West Jefferson, Sheila Howell and husband, Kevin, of Fleetwood, and Alicia Trivette and husband, Derek, of West Jefferson; sister, Zola Weatherman of Trap Hill; and two grandsons: Joseph and Bryne and future grandaughter. Sherry grew to love her best friend, Steve Shephard, who she worked beside for the past four years. She had a special appreciation for her long-time friends, Sam Lawson, and her neighbors and friends, Caroleen and Mark, who kept an eye out for Momma, and also, to acknowledge our Little Sister, Betty Hollars. There were so many family and friends that have touched her life in so many different ways � each one knows who they are. Memorial services for Sherry Lee Barker will be conducted Saturday evening, March 19th, at 6 o�clock, at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Rev. Sam Lawson. The family will receive friends Saturday from 4 until 6 o�clock, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Austin & Barnes Funeral Home, earmarked Sherry Barker family, or to the Watauga Humane Society, P.O. Box 1835 Boone, N.C. 28607. Online condolences may be shared with the family at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Barker family.