Love from Sarah Koldyke
October 18, 2009, 4:37 pm
Filed under:
Friends of Shery,
Photos | Tags:
creative,
cross stitch,
Emily,
Ham,
Hamilton,
high school,
humor,
laughter,
RobI first met Sharon (Shery) when I moved to Dallas in 1963. We were in high school. I was new to the area and Shery became a great friend to me. She was one of the top cheerleaders and always had a smile on her face and a ton of friends. Although she was petite she could spring high into the air. She had the most powerful legs I have ever seen. She always delivered her cheers with perfection.
Her parents had a store called Mr. B’s. For many years I loved to shop there during high school, college and long after. It was there I saw Shery often. Then I married and moved from Texas and lost touch with Shery.
In 1978 our family moved to Shreveport. I unexpectedly ran into Shery while waiting at Sear’s to get a baby picture taken. We immediately picked up our friendship again.
Several years later my family left Shreveport when Shery was pregnant with Rob. The big debate was whether he should be called Hamilton – to be shortened to Ham!! Trust me, we were all in favor of Rob and NOT Ham! The debate was o interesting and challenging for Jim and Shery.
My memories of Shery are precious. She was always a nice person to everyone. She had an infectious smile and lovely demeanor. She was always a pleasure to be around. Her abundant talents are too many to list, and she was always willing to share them with everyone. She had the patience of a saint.
Shery taught me to needlepoint and cross-stitch. I enjoyed all the projects she helped me with. I still have a pillow she made for me in 1979. It has been on my sofa all these years. I love the butterflies and how they represent the transistions we go through in life.
Shery faced many transitions, but she never let her illness or accident get her down. Her sense of humor always tickled me during our telephone conversations. Just a small example was how she described her leg “like a shish kabob,” and the way she wore her hair as a “comb over” after her cancer radiation treatments. She laughed her way through those tests.
I sent a perfume to Shery called “Beautiful.” It was a favorite of my mother’s, who also suffered with illness.
Emily, your wonderful mom left to your family a “Beautiful” legacy in the way she lived her life. She appreciated all things beautiful. She never let her disability get her down. She was blessed with talents and we, as her friends, were blessed with her gifts. Her friendship was a treasure.
Love From Jason McKenzie
May 5, 2009, 9:16 am
Filed under:
Friends of Rob & Emily | Tags:
Absolut,
Americana,
gifts,
Jason,
Khaki,
kitchen,
laminating,
laughter,
opinions,
Playboy,
stories,
wrappingI remember so many things about your mom growing up.
I remember the first time I ever met her; I raised rabbits for a boy scout merit badge and you wanted one so you and your mom showed up at my house to pick on out. You had that rabbit a long time!
As we left Broadmoor and went to different high schools, we still stayed close and 648 Ratcliff was always a fun place to hang out and learn about life from Shery. I remember when Catherine and I came over to visit and I followed y’all upstairs to your room and your mom said, “uh uh uh, little boys don’t go in little girls’ rooms.” I was mortified! Of course, over time, it didn’t seem to matter as much as I think your mom had more insight into who I was than I did!
I remember being at your house when the OJ Simpson chase was going on and her making a comment about how silly it was that they didn’t just shoot his tires out.
I remember getting ready for Byrd’s ‘Girl of my Screams’ pageant at your house and your mom helping me, John McConnell, and Brandon Bamonte put on panty hose and lipstick!
For my 16th birthday, she got me a subscription to Playboy of all things!
I remember helping you paint your bedroom and her being ok with me being upstairs since she had gotten to know me so well.
I remember house-sitting for y’all when you went to New York one year and your mom being so sweet about asking me. Of course, I remember her Americana décor and the wonderful framed tidbits throughout the house.
She and I had an Absolut Vodka Ad war going on for years! She finally beat me by far by finding out the months of magazines that the ads had been in and sent us to the downtown library to steal them! Remember, you and I almost got caught by the library rent-a-cop because one of the ads we stole had a sensor on it! When we told her, she didn’t care that we almost got into trouble…she was just upset that the ad had a sensor on it!
She thought it was gross when we put your toes in our mouths!
Her thinking how funny it was when Michael Tooke and I pinned you down and gave you a hickie on your neck!
She helped me make laminated cards and fun gifts for all of my girls back then.
She taught me how to wrap gifts in different ways and I still use her techniques today!
She would send me into the garage apartment to make sure you weren’t doing anything she didn’t approve of!
I remember not having a costume for Halloween one year so I went as her! She let me borrow a housegown, a cane, and glasses, and I had a wig to match her.
I remember sitting around for hours at the kitchen table talking and having Khaki there to play with us as your mom entertained us with her opinions and stories.
These are only a few of the memories that I have of your mom and she is
painted into my permanent memories that highlight some of the best times of
my life!
