Obituary: Sherry Anne Mowrer Newell

Press Release

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The visitation for Professor Emerita Sherry Anne Mowrer Newell will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 4, 2018, at the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home; her memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1313 SW D Avenue (Lawton, OK).

Sherry Anne Mowrer Newell

She died at 2:05 a.m. on May 26, 2018. The daughter of Mary Lillian (nee Sandefur) and Claude Newell Mowrer of Baldwin City, Kansas, Sherry was born on 11 June 1931 and is survived by her daughter, Kenni Lee (Kenwa Li) Newell of Los Angeles, California; two nieces, Mary Yvonne and Jackie Marie, of Overland Park, Kansas, and a nephew, Andy Green, of Overland Park; and twenty cousins. She is also survived by her beloved cat Sobi. In addition, she leaves behind a number of dear friends including Meg Deal-Saul, John G. Morris, Susan Luke, Sue Burpo, Roy Morgan, Steve Johnson, Ray Jackson and others too numerous to mention.
A teacher for thirty-four years before she retired, she taught grade school subjects at Gardner Elementary School in Gardner, Kansas; English at Indian Hills Community College in Indian Hills, Iowa; English at Kansas State University--Pittsburgh; and English at Cameron University, where she attained the rank of assistant professor, from 1975 to 1994. After graduating from public schools in Argentine, Kansas, and Baldwin City, she earned an undergraduate degree in psychology at Baker University in Baldwin City, serving as an intern in a private psychiatric hospital in Olathe, Kansas; she also earned an undergraduate degree in education at Baker and was certified for life as a teacher of elementary education. She later earned an MA in English at the University of Kansas. An outstanding student who graduated second in her class at Baker, she was a member of several honor societies: Alpha Delta Sigma, an interdisciplinary honor society at Baker that recognized academic achievement as well as involvement in university life; Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society; Phi Sigma Iota, the international foreign language honor society; Kappa Delta Pi, the international education honor society; and Phi Kappa Phi, the international interdisciplinary honor society.
Sherry's dedication to service her entire adult life resulted in her lifetime membership in the Humane Society, the Southwest Oklahoma Opera Guild, and Star Fleet International; the Leigh Holmes, John G. Morris, and Sherry A. Newell Endowed Lectureship for Classic Films at Cameron honors her service as the faculty co-advisor to the Cameron University Magic Lantern Film Society for twenty-seven years, a period of service that extended well after her retirement from Cameron. As a member of St. Andrew's, she was also an active volunteer in the St. John's Baptist Church's feeding program as well as the Salvation Army. A talented singer, she sang in several choirs: the Baker University Acappella Choir, the Kansas State University Symphony Choir, the Cameron University Messiah and Spring Concert Choirs, The Lawton Philharmonic Concert Choir, the Evening of Praise Choir, and the St. Andrew's Chancel Choir. Sherry loved learning, knowledge, her students, and any opportunity to serve and honor others. She was also deeply devout and faithful to her Lord. Memorials may be made to the St. Andrew's Music Program at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, P. 0. Box 1256, Lawton, OK, 73502.
An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com