Sherri Lee Adair Jepson Winder
1953 ~ 2011
Our dear Sherri Winder passed away September 11, 2011, in a car accident in Washington County, Utah. She was born September 17, 1953 in Seattle, Washington to James Wendell and Betty Rose Hellman Adair. She attended Woodway High School, Shoreline Community College and Brigham Young University. On May 30, 1973, she married her best friend Kent Layton Winder, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they raised five children. She is survived by Kent, her husband of 38 years; children Aimee (Matt) Newton, Mike (Karyn) Winder, Tami (Tom) Larsen, Nathan Winder and Isaac (Candalyn) Winder; And others, She was preceded in death by her father James Adair and father-in-law Ned Winder.
From Me, "Sherrie was a lovely woman full of grace, Charm and Caring for others.
I met her when she married Kent, Over the years Kent has been my boss in whatever department I worked in at Winder Dairy. Sherries death came as a great shock to me.
As many who are reading this know, I collect little items of Syncronicity when I come across them, an interesting note is that her own Father James Wendell Adair, was killed in a car accident on 9/11 (Sorry, I don't know the exact year, BUT I think about 1959) when Sherrie was only 6 years old.
One other personal observation, I have never seen so many flowers at a funeral. Ever. It was a great tribute to Sherri from all those who's life she had touched."
This Synchronicity was shared with me by Sherris sister in law Wendy Winder Bassett, shortly after Sherries death."
Wendy said "A couple of things I wanted to share that happened before Sherri's death that, looking back, make me realize how prepared she was. First I have to say that Sherri always lived the Gospel to its fullest. She was a wonderful member missionary. She always took at least one Book of Mormon to share on every cruise or family trip we ever went on. Sometimes it just got added to the cruise library but often times it was given to a room steward or waiter or fellow passenger. On our last sibling trip to Spain, she handed us all pass along cards in the Salt Lake Airport with the challenge to share them. I am ashamed to admit that the rest of my family is not nearly as enthusiastic as Sherri was about sharing the gospel. We all worry about the typical things of imposing on someone, but not Sherri. She knew she had something great to share and she never hestitated. I will never forget riding on top of the Rio Bamba (a cool triain ride in Ecuador) and having Sherri behind me, sitting back to back, and listening to her tell the college student next to her why our church was different from all the rest. She seemed to have no fear! And I have to add, along with this, she was also a fabulous fellowshipper/visiting teacher in our own ward. When my bro-in-law Brent was bishop, he referred to Sherri as the "secret weapon." If someone less active needed a friend - call Sherri as her visiting teacher. She was diligent about her duties. There are several women active in the ward today because of her.
Now back to how prepared she was. A few months ago Sherri had a friend in the temple tell her about a dream this friend had about being prepared. As her friend spoke, Sherri felt the spirit of what she was saying and started beefing up their own personal and home preparedness. She got food storage and water and all those kinds of things. The day before she died she came home all excited because she got the last stove insert that fits into a fireplace at the Army Navy Store. She was on a quest to be ready. My sister Janet was talking to Sherri about this a few weeks ago when we were all at our little Winder Reunion at Fountain Green and Sherri said to Janet, "and you know what we are preparing for don't you?" and Janet said she sat there thinking and thinking what she might be referring to and Sherri answered - "why 9/11 of course." Little did Sherri know what was going to happen on 9/11 (the day of the accident) to her personally. But she had a prompting to be prepared and she followed it. Very typical Sherri.
The last quick personal thing about her being prepared. Back in August, a couple weeks after my birthday, she and Kent showed up at my house one Sunday afternoon after church. Sherri had a big package in her hand - my birthday present. She apologized that it was late but was excited for me to open it. Turns out it was a beautifully framed cross stitch picture that has hung in their family room (in both homes they lived in) since I gave it to them in 1985. It was a year we had their name for Christmas and I had worked on this cross stitch for months and when Christmas rolled around we decided to give it to them. It says "Happiness is Homemade" and had a house on it that looked like the home they were living in at the time. Sherri was so delighted with that gift and she had framed it (something we couldn't afford as Bret was still in school.) Over the years I have commented to her how much it meant to me that she loved it so much to put it up and keep it up for so long. (I have to add here that Sherri always had a perfect looking house, like magazine perfect) Anyway, after 25 years she had other stuff she wanted to put on her walls, (who wouldn't?) and wanted me to have it back. It touched me so that when I unwrapped it I got tearful, and she got tearful, and there we stood at my front door hugging and bawling and sharing our love. It wasn't just one hug and a goodbye (I remember because Kent was standing there saying "hon, we need to go. . ") but we hugged several times and really had quite a cry, considering it was just a picture. I remember walking back into the kitchen afterwards and Rosey asked, "WHAT was that about?" I said I didn't really know but it sure was sweet! Well now I know, it my tender mercy, my sweet personal farewell with dear Sherri who was a very dear person to me. Looking back I realize it was a gift I can truly cherish, not just the picture which I have hung here in the family room, but the memory of the love we shared at that moment.
So there you have some thoughts. Thanks for letting me share. Congrats if you made it to this point.
Love to all, Wendy
"REST IN PEACE Sherri, You lived life well and now We all know you have gone on to prepare a place for those you love"
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