Charyle "Sherrie" Throckmorton

Charyle “Sherrie” Throckmorton

Born May 20, 1938  /  Died March 3, 2023

Charyle “Sherrie” Throckmorton, was born to William Harold and Thelma Geraldine Twitty in Rochester, New York, May 20, 1938. She was welcomed by first-time parents and extended family, who all adored her. In fact, her father thought she was so exceptionally perfect that he even enrolled her in a baby contest! He never agreed with the results when she didn’t win first place. Beloved siblings soon followed who include Bill, Joyce, Suzy and Phyllis. Our Mom always told us she grew up rich. When pressed, she would say it had nothing to do with finances, but everything to do with having a family she treasured. She never felt richer than when the prayers she offered as a young child in Primary were answered and her family was sealed together in the Idaho Falls Temple on July 5, 1955.

Charyle’s early years were spent in Redondo Beach, California and later years in Columbus, Ohio. She would tell us of happy memories as a teenager in Ohio with her many friends and of activities in which she was engaged. We especially were awed when she told us she played an electric Hawaiian guitar on a local variety TV show. We never heard her play, but we loved to play with the green electric guitar which is still in her closet to this day.

When she was 18 years old, Mom embarked on a new adventure with her best friend, Sue, as they boarded an early-morning Greyhound bus headed to Provo, Utah to attend Brigham Young University. It was there she met our Dad, Bob (Robert) Throckmorton at a dance. Dad found out that another roommate wanted to ask her on a date, so he raced home to call her first. They fell in love and chose to marry September 12, 1958, in the Los Angeles Temple. She gained loving parents-in-law, Robert and Mildred Throckmorton, and two new sisters, Marilyn and Debbie. She moved to California to continue with her adventures, but this time with her new best friend, Bob, by her side.

She put Dad through law school, working at a doctor’s office. When Dad graduated, he wanted her to return to finish her degree, but she chose to dedicate her time to a career she prized over any other, that of mother. Mom had 8 children: Pam (Scott), Lori (Clifton), Lisa (Alan), Bob (Jennifer), Kristin (John), David (deceased), Karen (Chris) and Julie (Sam). She took great joy in being a mom and used so many of her talents to excel in this role and create a rich, full, happy life for us. She told Dad, towards the end of his life, that life together was “almost perfect,” as the only missing piece was David who had passed at 4 months of age due to heart disease. It is a testament to their faith and the quality of their marriage that this trial strengthened them and their dedication to family.

When her oldest 5 children were in the process of obtaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she decided it was time to finish her education as well. She excelled as she obtained her bachelor’s degree and went on to earn her master’s degree as well!  She used her master’s degree as a specialist in reading education to volunteer, then later work part time, in Pam’s classes where her students loved that her mom worked with her! She also used her degree to help teach grandchildren.

When children left the home, grandchildren and great-grandchildren entered. She cherished these relationships. When she could no longer participate in activities with them, she was eager to hear about their experiences and successes and then would turn around and brag on them to others! She has 22 grandchildren: Emily, Kipp, Lindsey, Mitchell, Jacob, Tyler, Andrew, Matthew, Kathleen, Sarah, Adam, Caroline, Elizabeth, Kathryn, Sophia, Jack, Charlie, Claire, Robert, William, Nolan and Suzy. She also has 8 great-grandchildren: Evelyn, Colette, Paisley, Wesley, Garrett, Olive, McKay, Landon--with more on the way.

Mom and Dad’s last adventure together was serving in the temple in Montevideo, Uruguay from 2004 to 2005. We loved Skyping with them and hearing about their experiences. We heard more than once that the other temple workers commented on their being “love birds” and “novios.” But we already knew that!

Soon after they returned from their mission, while preparing for their next mission, they learned Dad had cancer. Mom never left his side as they first were hopeful for healing, and then heartbroken to learn his cancer was terminal. She stayed positive for him and never complained during this time, all while her heart dreaded the worst: life without him. She missed him every day since his passing in January 2008.

As in all other seasons of life, she drew on her love for Heavenly Father and her faith in His plan to journey through grief. She taught us throughout our lives of these truths and the power of patterning our lives after Jesus Christ, reading his words in the scriptures, praying daily, following His example in loving and serving others…and sometimes these teachings included words. Because the truth is, we learned mostly by watching how she lived her life.

We loved watching our mom cultivate her many talents, including: intelligence; exceptional vocabulary; voracious reader; making a house a home; friend; protector of people; understanding listener; wise counselor; peacemaker; excellent cook; gatherer; devoted wife and partner; nurturing mother; a woman who loved God; teacher; quick to notice people and serve in the home, church and community; docent; temple worker; gardener; making things more beautiful; humor; maintaining perspective--and we can go on and on as we were the beneficiaries of all these talents. We were inspired by her hobbies, talents and by her love of learning and she tirelessly supported and encouraged us in our development. There was no effort too great, nor distance too far to share her love, concern, and service to her children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends.

We are grateful for every moment we had with our Mom. She remained positive despite any challenge she faced, with abundant grace, kindness and an outward focus on others. We join in her faith that families are forever and, because of covenants, we now share her with our Dad and David, who her arms have ached to hold for decades now.