Sherrill Ann Thompson

Sherrill Ann Thompson, beloved daughter of Laurel R. Thompson and Margaret M. Morrell Thompson, was born March 4, 1953, at Crista Hogan Hospital in West Plains, Missouri. She entered into eternal rest Friday, December 14, 2018, at the age of sixty-five years.

Sherrill was a member of the West Plains High School Zizzer Class of 1971, thereafter completing her post-secondary education while working and raising two sons, Ian A. Elder and Eric A. Elder. She completed her comprehensive Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree at SMSU-Springfield in 1988 and passed her Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination the next year. She achieved her Master of Accountancy degree at SMSU-Springfield in 1999. Sherrill worked many years at Eaton Corporation; Wahlquist, Wahlquist & Buchanan, CPAs; as sole proprietor of her own independent accounting office; Air Evac EMS, Inc.; West Plains R-VII School District; the First Christian Church; and the City of West Plains.  No stranger to hard work, Sherrill always found time for beauty. She was an accomplished artist, long active in the local Art Guild and the West Plains Council on the Arts. In more recent years, she added photography to her painting and drawing repertoire. She loved music, her family and friends, her church family, her garden, and her pets. She played several instruments and, even up to the time of her death, had ambitions to learn more. She was an active participant and board member of the West Plains Community Garden.  Sherrill served various offices in the Rotary Club of West Plains and was also a charter member and officer of the Sunrise Rotary Club of West Plains. Offices served in both clubs included that of president. She was a Paul Harris Fellow. Sherrill served on several community boards and committees, including the South Central Missouri Rehabilitation Center, the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce, the West Plains Council on the Arts, and the committee to explore a charter form of government in West Plains. She worked for many years on the local American Cancer Society Relay for Life event.  Sherrill was baptized at a young age at First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in West Plains. As a long-time member of First Christian Church, Sherrill enjoyed teaching Sunday school, working on Bible school, planning worship services, serving on the church council and diaper ministries, and—perhaps most—singing in the choir.

She is survived by two sons, Ian Elder and wife, Ileana, Washington, D.C and Eric Elder, Massachusetts; her parents, Laurel and Margaret Thompson, West Plains; two grandchildren, Astrid and Elam Elder; three brothers, Jim Thompson and wife, Sarah, West Plains, Steven Thompson, West Plains and Russell Thompson and wife An, Soddy Daisy, Tennessee; one sister, Vickie Petkovic, West Plains; and many cousins and nieces and nephews.

Her grandparents, Thomas E. and Ivy Morrell and Earl H. and Faye Thompson and her nephew, Jeff Thompson, preceded her in death.

Funeral services for Sherrill will be Wednesday, December 19, at 10:00 a.m. in the Rose Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Visitation will be Tuesday evening, December 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Community Garden of West Plains or to the Ozarks Medical Center Cancer Treatment Center and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.