Wife of 48 years to Gib, Mom to Laura, Kathleen and Gavin, “Sherry” to Shawn and Heather, Nana to her many grandchildren and greats, sister and friend to many, veteran of our great country serving in a M.A.S.H. unit in Desert Storm, but most of all she was a Christian with a strong faith and a committed heart to help and serve others. She went to rest with God on July 19, 2022.

Sherryl Marie was born November 29, 1943 to Clyde and Lee Barlow in New Orleans, LA. They moved frequently due to her father’s occupation giving Sherry many experiences early in life, but mostly shaping her as a southern girl with proper southern traditions that came out during holidays and formal occasions. 

After graduating from Columbus, GA High School Sherry studied nursing at Georgia State/Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and then attended Duke University Medical Center to begin practicing Nurse Anesthesiology in 1966. After living in Richmond VA and marrying John E. Greene they moved to Riverside, CA in 1967 where daughter Laura was born.  They relocated to St. Louis, MO in 1970 where daughter Kathleen was born. John and Sherry divorced shortly after.

A couple years later Sherry met Gib Cooper at a Parents Without Partners event and a love connection was made. They soon married, adding Gib’s children Shawn and Heather to the family. Son Gavin was born a few years later. During this time, she earned her BA in Political Science from Webster College graduating Magna Cum Laude. After making their home in St. Louis for many years they relocated in 1992 to Phoenix, AZ with her parents where they remained.

Sherry had a successful career as a CRNA both through the Veterans Administration and as locum tenens where she and Gib traveled the country. She served as an officer in both the Army and the Air Force and retired as a Major.

After retiring Sherry spent her time volunteering with her church, at the local food bank HART Pantry, at Habitat for Humanity including in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico in 2018, as an election ballot counter, and at Friends of Southwest Family Advocacy Center in Goodyear.

Sherry had many other interests including a side career as a real estate agent, entertaining and hosting frequent dinner parties, designing, and building many homes, and using her talents to create weekly floral arrangements for their church Spirit of Hope.

Sherry was predeceased by her parents William Clyde and EraLee Lunsford Barlow and stepdaughter Heather Jane Lucille Cooper.

She is survived by her husband Gilbert (Gib) Irwin Cooper, stepson Matthew Shawn (Sandy) Cooper, daughters Laura Elaine Herren and Kathleen Marie (Daniel) Briscoe and son Gavin; Grandchildren Matthew Shawn (Carrie) Cooper Jr., Austin Chance Johnson, Hannah Marie and Ashley Anne Herren, Cutter Lee and Tanner Clyde Briscoe, Jaiden Antonio and Christian Randal Avila and Grayson Mark and Emma Kay Cooper; and Great Grandchildren Madeline Anne (fiancé Daniel Scott Doan) and Morgan Shawn Cooper; and brother James Clyde (Margo) Barlow, nephew Christopher Eric (Andrea) Peck, niece Michelle Lee (O’Ryan) Loving and great nephew Ryan Peck; and many other family and friends.

Donations in Sherry’s memory may be sent to HART Pantry Peoria, AZ.