Sherrill L. Dowse

Harvard resident, Sherrill "Sheri" Dowse, 57 passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at the Harvard Rest Haven in Harvard, NE. Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m., Friday, May 1, 2015, at the United Church of Christ in Harvard, NE with Pastor Dave Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at the Harvard Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., with the family present from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., at McLaughlin Funeral Home in Clay Center, NE. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family. Sheri was born June 4, 1957, in Kansas City, MO., to Sherman and Faith Ann (Walter) Johnson Jr. She lived in Missouri until 1960, when the family moved to Hastings. She attended Hastings Public Schools and later earned her GED. In February of 1975, they moved to Harvard. Sheri married her soul mate Danny Dowse in Harvard on December 2, 1978, in the middle of a blizzard. To this union 4 children were born. Danny preceded her in death on April 16, 2010. In the early years of her marriage she worked at Ebko Industries and A-1 Fiberglass. She then babysat for many years, and helped to raise several nieces and nephews as well as many other children. She influenced their lives in so many ways and their parents will be forever grateful. In 1997, she started working at the Harvard Rest Haven and she was the Housekeeping/Laundry Supervisor for many years until January of 2014, when she took an extended leave of absence for health reasons. Sheri loved to read and usually had at least one book in close proximity. She owned several hundred if not thousands of books and was always very willing to provide one wherever needed for adults or children alike. Sheri enjoyed music (especially David Bowie, Celtic Thunder, Celtic Women, and Mannheim Steamroller) and went to many concerts with her sisters and nieces. She also loved television especially most recently DIY, TLC, and the Food Network stations. Sheri was a very avid ghost hunter and was a member of the group Synergy Paranormal, Inc. She was fearless during those ghost hunts and also very caring and compassionate to the ones who were concerned about their findings. Family was very essential to Sheri and her most valuable role in life was that of Mother and Grandmother. Her pets, especially Blue were very very important to her and Blue helped her through this last two years with unconditional love and tenderness. She was a beautiful, gentle soul who burned bright and touched all of those around her. Sheri is survived by her children and their spouses, Danielle and Scott Shiley of Sapulpa, OK; Tony Dowse and Tiffany Moreno; Shane and Tara Dowse; Caitlyn Dowse and Tim Petzoldt; all of Harvard, NE; grandchildren, LilliAnn Robinson of Commerce, OK; Coraline Dowse; Treyton Griffith; Serenity Dowse; Gracie Dowse; Connor Dowse all of Harvard, NE; siblings and their spouses, Russ and Deb Johnson of Hampton, NE; Greg and Ann Johnson of Grand Island, NE; Kelley and Terry Owens and T.J. and John Gaughen all of Harvard, NE; brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill Dowse of Grand Island, NE; Steve and Sandy Dowse of Omaha, NE; Kris and Paul Sedersten; Sue and Bob Stett all of Harvard, NE; and numerous nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends. Sheri was preceded in death by her husband, Danny; parents, Sherman and Faith Ann Johnson Jr.; Father and Mother-in-law, Bradford and Leota Dowse; brother-in-law, Jack Dowse; nephew, Bradley "Bird" Hampton; "brother", Tony Wiles; and her maternal and paternal grandparents.

Tributes

Sherrill L. Dowse

June 4, 1957 - April 28, 2015