Obituary for Sherry Ardene Howe Brinkman
Sherry Ardene Howe Brinkman, age 92, died peacefully at home in Wetumpka Alabama on September 4th, 2022. Sherry was preceded in death by her parents Floyd Elwood Howe and Pearl Essie Zeck Howe, her husband, Ben Alden Brinkman, her sister, Jean Laverne Howe Britton, and her daughter, Rebecca Jean Brinkman Wynn.
She is survived by her youngest sister Deanna [Don] Jill Howe Gleaves, oldest daughter Carol [Fred] Ann Brinkman Rattan, son Jim [Linda] Alden Brinkman, grandchildren Erika [Isaac] Lauren Brinkman Peterson, Erin Elaine Brinkman, Christopher [Tabitha] Lee Rattan, Casey Austin Rattan, Brendan Wynn, and Patrick [Bethany] Benjamin Rattan, great grandchildren, Sean Christopher Rattan, Samuel Cade Rattan, Kason Benjamin Rattan, Lucas Gregory Rattan, Victoria Grace Rattan, and numerous nephews.
Sherry was born and raised on a sheep ranch in Laramie Wyoming. She loved nursing baby lambs, riding horses, finding new kittens in the barn, riding on her dad’s ice truck, and going to dances in town. She was musically talented, taking voice lessons and learning to play the accordion. Her favorite school subject was biology, which led her to work in medical labs as a young adult, including the CDC in Atlanta. She married Ben at age 24, and they lived in numerous states as he pursued his veterinarian career, settling eventually in Raleigh, NC. When their family grew, she became a devoted housewife and mother, staying at home to raise her two daughters. During this time, she enjoyed tennis, gardening, crafts, family camping and spending time with neighbors.
They moved to Florida when Ben retired and became active in the local community and joined the Satellite Beach United Methodist Church Sherry sang in the choir with her beautiful alto voice, volunteered as the choir’s librarian, and assisted with the church’s Memorial Garden for many years. She and Ben played tennis often, and Sherry made lifelong friends with her lady’s tennis group members. Sherry also enjoyed gardening as an active member of a garden club.
Eventually, they slowed down, and after her two knee replacements she gave up tennis and settled in the Hawthorne retirement community with Ben in Leesburg FL. They enjoyed playing pool often, going to concerts, and spending time with neighbors. They joined Pilgrim’s Church of Christ, and Sherry enjoyed singing in the church choir and the Hawthorne chorus. She also served on the board of the Hawthorne Memorial Gardens Board and joined a group of volunteers who took Hawthorne residents to doctor’s appointments.
Within two years of Ben’s passing in 2011, Sherry made her last move to Wetumpka Alabama to live with her daughter Carol and family. She joined their church, Mulder Memorial United Methodist Church, attended faithfully as she was able, and became active in their Prime Timers group where she made many dear friends. Several highlights during these last 9 years include two trips to Florida to visit friends left behind, family and friends visiting from afar, enjoying concerts, visiting botanical gardens, and attending one of the last performances of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus in Birmingham (a childhood dream was to become a trapeze artist). Her last big outing was to Hoover to attend a Sean of the South/Birmingham Boys Choir performance and getting to hug his neck! Every evening, Sherry and Carol enjoyed reading Sean Dietrich’s daily post.
Sherry was a beautiful person inside and out, sweet, caring, and generous. She donated to several favorite charities and was always concerned about others. While we rejoice that she is singing (and dancing, no doubt) with the angels, and family and friends who have gone on before, we will miss her deeply, and look forward to seeing her when we make our finally journey homeward.
Sherry loved the Mulder Gospel and Worship Choirs and their music, so we ask that any donations be made to Mulder Memorial UMC, earmarked for the choir program. She did not want a formal memorial service, so we will remember and celebrate her life as family and friends gather informally over the next few months. Her ashes will be placed in several of her favorite places as her Carol visits family and friends over the next year.
She is survived by her youngest sister Deanna [Don] Jill Howe Gleaves, oldest daughter Carol [Fred] Ann Brinkman Rattan, son Jim [Linda] Alden Brinkman, grandchildren Erika [Isaac] Lauren Brinkman Peterson, Erin Elaine Brinkman, Christopher [Tabitha] Lee Rattan, Casey Austin Rattan, Brendan Wynn, and Patrick [Bethany] Benjamin Rattan, great grandchildren, Sean Christopher Rattan, Samuel Cade Rattan, Kason Benjamin Rattan, Lucas Gregory Rattan, Victoria Grace Rattan, and numerous nephews.
Sherry was born and raised on a sheep ranch in Laramie Wyoming. She loved nursing baby lambs, riding horses, finding new kittens in the barn, riding on her dad’s ice truck, and going to dances in town. She was musically talented, taking voice lessons and learning to play the accordion. Her favorite school subject was biology, which led her to work in medical labs as a young adult, including the CDC in Atlanta. She married Ben at age 24, and they lived in numerous states as he pursued his veterinarian career, settling eventually in Raleigh, NC. When their family grew, she became a devoted housewife and mother, staying at home to raise her two daughters. During this time, she enjoyed tennis, gardening, crafts, family camping and spending time with neighbors.
They moved to Florida when Ben retired and became active in the local community and joined the Satellite Beach United Methodist Church Sherry sang in the choir with her beautiful alto voice, volunteered as the choir’s librarian, and assisted with the church’s Memorial Garden for many years. She and Ben played tennis often, and Sherry made lifelong friends with her lady’s tennis group members. Sherry also enjoyed gardening as an active member of a garden club.
Eventually, they slowed down, and after her two knee replacements she gave up tennis and settled in the Hawthorne retirement community with Ben in Leesburg FL. They enjoyed playing pool often, going to concerts, and spending time with neighbors. They joined Pilgrim’s Church of Christ, and Sherry enjoyed singing in the church choir and the Hawthorne chorus. She also served on the board of the Hawthorne Memorial Gardens Board and joined a group of volunteers who took Hawthorne residents to doctor’s appointments.
Within two years of Ben’s passing in 2011, Sherry made her last move to Wetumpka Alabama to live with her daughter Carol and family. She joined their church, Mulder Memorial United Methodist Church, attended faithfully as she was able, and became active in their Prime Timers group where she made many dear friends. Several highlights during these last 9 years include two trips to Florida to visit friends left behind, family and friends visiting from afar, enjoying concerts, visiting botanical gardens, and attending one of the last performances of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey Circus in Birmingham (a childhood dream was to become a trapeze artist). Her last big outing was to Hoover to attend a Sean of the South/Birmingham Boys Choir performance and getting to hug his neck! Every evening, Sherry and Carol enjoyed reading Sean Dietrich’s daily post.
Sherry was a beautiful person inside and out, sweet, caring, and generous. She donated to several favorite charities and was always concerned about others. While we rejoice that she is singing (and dancing, no doubt) with the angels, and family and friends who have gone on before, we will miss her deeply, and look forward to seeing her when we make our finally journey homeward.
Sherry loved the Mulder Gospel and Worship Choirs and their music, so we ask that any donations be made to Mulder Memorial UMC, earmarked for the choir program. She did not want a formal memorial service, so we will remember and celebrate her life as family and friends gather informally over the next few months. Her ashes will be placed in several of her favorite places as her Carol visits family and friends over the next year.