Sherrill Schofield
September 5, 1950 ~ April 20, 2020
Born in:
Kansas City, MO
Resided in:
Fletcher, NC
Sherrill Schofield, age 69, beloved mother and dear friend, died peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of April 20, 2020.
Born September 5, 1950, in Kansas City, Missouri, Sherrill grew up in Prairie Village and Overland Park, Kansas, and Joplin, Missouri. She also spent a significant amount of time with family in Clinton, Missouri. She attended Joplin High School and Missouri Southern State University, completing her undergraduate degree in Education in 1972.
Sherrill attended graduate school at what is now the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg in 1973. She was the fourth generation of her family to be affiliated with the University since its beginnings in 1871, when her great-grandparents helped found the school, then known as Normal School No. 2.
While pursuing a graduate degree in public safety, Sherrill applied for a job with what was then ITT Hartford. This move was the beginning of a 40-year career with the Loss Control/Risk Engineering department. She advanced from trainee to Executive Consultant, specializing in Ergonomics, Healthcare, Property Production, and Product Liability. She enjoyed and took pride in her career; her favorite aspect was forging well-established and trusting relationships with clients across the country, who would often specifically request her services. As a working adult, Sherrill lived in Independence, Missouri; Overland Park, Kansas; Eden Prairie, Minnesota; and retired to Fletcher, North Carolina in 2014.
Sherrill’s interests were wide and varied. She loved to read, which contributed to her eclectic and extensive vocabulary. She loved animals, an ingrained family trait, and was known amongst her friends for her deep affection for her feline companions. She also enjoyed travelling, which imbued a fondness and fascination for the Rocky Mountains of Montana, the prairies of South Dakota, the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, and the low country of South Carolina. Later in life, she would fulfill her dream of visiting Scotland, where her grandfather studied medicine.
Sherrill married Thomas LaBerge in 1977 in Prairie Village, Kansas. They were later divorced; however, from this union their daughter, Sara, was born in 1982.
Throughout her life, Sherrill’s primary love and focus was her only child, Sara, in whom she instilled her own interests, as well as a generous sense of humor, an acute interest in history, and the pleasure of a single malt whisky. Their relationship was intimate and dear to them both, an unconditional love that never failed them.
Sherrill is preceded in death by her parents, Linn J. Schofield II of Warrensburg, MO, and Sara Spangler Schofield of Clinton, MO, as well as her beloved felines Lucifer, Pandora, Samantha, Sebastian (Mr. B), Sabrina, Tobey, Pippin, and Bella. She is survived by her daughter, Sara LaBerge; her sister, Sallie Schofield; brother, Linn J. Schofield III; her nephews, Stuart and Jesse Schofield; her niece, Valerie Schofield; her grandnephew, Bridger; her grandcats, Boe and Simon; and many dear and wonderful friends.
A memorial service will be announced and held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Transylvania Animal Alliance Group.
Services
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian
72 Long Shoals Road
Arden, NC 28704
(828)687-3530
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
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With my heartfelt gratitude for your presence in my life, Boo Boo. Love Sallie
God bless you Sara, as you grieve the loss of your mother.
God bless you, Sara, as you grieve the loss of your mother.
I am sorry for your loss Sara! She was a good neighbor and seemed a wonderful person.
💜
Our deepest condolences!
Sincerely,
Dave & Ruth Cooke
Although we were not close friends at JHS (not by design of course, but by the mathmatics of the sheer huge volume of us members of the JHS Class of ’68) but it was widely known by all in those days (well over 50 years ago) that you were a “up coming Star” in the world! Your life story is a epitah to have well proved that forecast too. It is a beautiful record of praise and remberance for your family, your friends, and the world at large I think!
So Rest in Peace dear Sherill. I only wish that I would have had the fine priveledge to had known you better 50 + years ago and in more current times as well).
The world has lost a most fine and gracious member of life, grace, and lasting purpose in your very being while you graced Joplin, Kansas City, North Carolina, and all places in between where your path and various homes resided.
In a gentle rememberence of you,
Dennis Coffey
I worked with Sherrill for 13 years at the Hartford. She was a very special lady and will always have a special place in my heart.
Great memories of Sherrill as a vibrant member of our Youth Group at 1st Methodist Church in Joplin. My sincere condolences.
Sara. So very sorry.
Good memories of great neighbors
Much Love.
Sara I am so sorry for your loss. I know you and your mom were very close and hope you take comfort in knowing that Sherrill was loved by many
Sherrill and I first meet in 10th grade gym class. Our paths crossed many times before we graduated from Southern. I will always remember her smile, wit and love of her family.
Take hold of the many memories
you have made together and keep them close. With deepest sympathy.
Sara I send you love. I only had the privilege of Sherrill’s friendship for a few months but I’m so glad I got to meet and know her. She was a special lady in so many ways. Hugs and prayers being sent to her family
Sara, my deepest sympathies on the loss of your Mother. I worked with your Mom when I was the Manager of the Hartford Loss Control Department in Minneapolis from 1995 to 2003. We both loved our cats and had told each other great stories about them. My sincere condolences.
To my beloved Sister and her
Daughter, words cannot
Express the depth of my
grief. It’s only been a week,
but it seems like we were
talking yesterday.
You always had an answer
for my questions or concerns!
I will miss you dearly!!
Your Big Brother Always
Jim
My Beloved Sister, always
ready to help me answer a
question, give me a recipe,
the family historian, I will
miss you so much!!
Your Big Brother Forever
My condolences on the loss of your mom! I know that this loss is great. I am thankful that you and your mom had such a close bond. We were classmates together at JHS, members of the class of ‘68. May your precious memories comfort you in the days ahead. This is a quote that comforts me, “Death leaves a heartache that no one can heal, Love leaves memories that no one can steal!”
So sorry to hear of Sherrill’s passing. Lots of fond memories of Sherrill and the whole Schofield family. Of course, we lived at 410 N. Pearl before we moved way up the street to 429 N. Pearl. Sherrill was a smart girl, read a lot, did well in English and history as I recall (we were the same age/class). Had an outstanding career with The Hartford.
Sara, even though my mother had mentioned your name, it just struck me as I was reading your mother’s obituary that you were named after your grandmother – what a neat honor by your mom to bestow on you!
Just two quick stories about the Schofield’s as we were growing up – Sallie at times kept her horse in the garage back behind the house at 410 N. Pearl. One day, John Moss, a year older than Sherrill and I and who lived in the 500 block up the street, was walking home from North Junior High. He went up the alley ( the garage opened to the alley), either heard or saw the horse in the garage, and thought he’d sneak in and see the horse. As he got in behind it, the horse kicked and kicked in John’s two front teeth. From then on, John had false teeth in front!
Second quick story – There was a grocery store up around the corner from us called a Unland’s, and the Unlands lived on the corner next to their store. They didn’t like fireworks being shot off on the 4th of July. Mr. Schofield, your grandfather, was known to like to stir things up. I’ll never forget watching him, about 6:30 pm on the 4th of July, walk up around the corner and set off a buzz bomb right in front of the Unland’s house. We all got a hoot out of that! Your grandfather had a sharp sense of humor.
Sara, Sallie, and Jim – so sorry for your loss. May Sherrill Rest In Peace.
Sara, I worked with Sherrill for many years in Loss Control at The Hartford. She made me laugh and I learned much from her during our Staff Meetings and about her during off work times. I know she loved you dearly and was very proud of you and your accomplishments. You had the kind of mother daughter relationship every mother dreams of. The pictures posted on this site bring back all good memories. That is how I will remember her. She will be missed.
The Edward Buncombe Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution mourns the loss of our member, Sherrill.
Linda Gill, Regent
I was a classmate of Sherrill’s in Joplin. My prayers are with her family. I am so sorry for your loss.
Wishing you peace within, as you grieve the loss of your momma.
Love, Aunt Sallie
Sherrill and I attended Missouri Southern together and studied Health and Physical Education back in the early 70’s. She was the pretty one and the smart one. She loved her cats! We have communicated all these years because of our friendship. I will miss her dearly. Sherrill loved her Sara, that’s for sure! May she rest in peace.
I just learned about your mom. I am so sorry. I was fond of Sherrill and I too was blessed with one of those excellent mother/daughter relationships. You are very lucky in that regard. Good memories help to get through hard times
Sherrill was one of the lovely & grounded kids in a turbulent time. Always thought so much of her. Knew that she had a career with the Hartford and that she did very well. Found the notice of her death in the Crossroads. Great memories of a really solid person.