Sherry Ellen (Peters) Underwood of Springfield, Mo., passed away peacefully, in the company of her loving family, on July 21, 2024, after spending the last few weeks of her life being cared for in the home of her daughter, Courtney and husband Bryce Booher. Her passing was the result of a chronic illness, which Sherry bravely fought for several years.

Sherry was born to Jim and Nell Peters of West Plains, Mo., on February 21, 1955. Her only sibling was her brother, Jimmy, who was three years older. She attended elementary and high school there, graduating with the Zizzers Class of 1973. The family always stressed the importance of education, with Jim being a teacher and coach and Nell a substitute teacher, so Sherry followed in her brother's footsteps and went to Southeast Missouri State College in Cape Girardeau, studying education and graduating in 1977. While in college, she was an active member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.

After graduation, Sherry taught and coached basketball and track at Strafford High School. She married Ronnie Hogue in 1980, and their two daughters, Courtney and Brittany, were born in 1983 and 1986. Sadly, Brittany passed away suddenly in early 1987.

From the time her daughters were born, Sherry was a stay-at-home mother, devoting herself to her family. Courtney remembers that she relished her role as mom, involving herself in all her daughter's activities and always being available to help wherever needed. She was also a member of the Springfield Junior League, a volunteer organization. The family were members of Schweitzer United Methodist Church during that time.

In more recent years, when the time came that her parents' health began to decline, Sherry moved back to West Plains, helping out wherever needed and also reprising her role as a teacher, by leading GED classes at the high school. She said this was the most rewarding paid job she ever had; it was a joy to see adults, some of them older, finish something so important with her help. She knew she was making a difference in their lives. Sherry moved back to Springfield when her illness made it necessary to be near her doctors, but when she was able, she enjoyed working part time at PFI Western Wear.

Sherry called her father, Jim, her greatest role model in life, for he demonstrated for his children the importance of hard work and good citizenship in the community in which they lived. Her mother, Nell, set an example of fixing herself up, always putting on a bright smile and facing the world with a happy, positive outlook, even in the hard times. When facing her own mortality, Sherry met her fate with a strong faith and graceful acceptance. She wanted to live long enough to see her granddaughter, Audrey, graduate from Nixa High School in May, and was so thankful that God granted her that opportunity, giving Him the glory.

Preceding Sherry in death were her grandparents, including her dearly-loved grandmother, Margaret Ellen Curtis of Springfield, for whom she was named, her parents, Jim and Nell Peters, and her infant daughter, Brittany Anne Hogue. She is survived by her daughter Courtney and husband Bryce Booher of Nixa, her two grandchildren, Audrey and Hunter Jensen, and her brother Jimmy and wife Beth Peters of West Plains. She will also be deeply missed by her maternal aunt, Camille and husband Bill Ricketts of Springfield, her nephew, Andrew Peters, his wife Emily and their family of Springfield, and her niece, Julie, husband Jeffrey Gower and their family of Olathe, KS. A host of longtime friends will also miss Sherry's beautiful smile and loving, positive outlook.

Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, July 25, 2024, at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home followed by interment at Maple Park Cemetery. Sherry's ashes will be spread over the grave of her infant daughter, Brittany, alongside her maternal Curtis grandparents. Because Sherry was a long-time supporter of St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN, the family suggests memorials be made to this worthy charity (www.stjude.org/donate).