Sheryl Smith

Sheryl Lynn McRae Smith 1962-2016 Sheryl "Sherrie" Lynn McRae Smith, 54, passed away on Sunday July 31, 2016 at the Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX. Born June 22, 1962 in Portland, OR to the late Carol Sue McRae, she is survived by her four daughters Megan McRae, Jessica Backhaus, Ashley Napper and Savannah Smith. Sherrie was born in Portland, OR but made her way to Brownsville, TX with her family where she graduated from Homer Hamna High School. In 1985 she entered the Navy where she worked as a hospital corpsman for 5 years. In 1990 she was honorably discharged and eventually settled down in Texas for a while where she raised her four daughters. Aside from her time in the Navy she worked in healthcare for many years. In 2010 she relocated to Kingsport, TN with her two youngest daughters where she developed a love for the Great Smokey Mountains. In August 2014 she relocated to Houston when her health began to decline. Sherrie was known for a few things: an excellent cook, a people person, a special friend, a lover of horror flicks, diet coke and Elvis, and an avid gamer. She could sit and talk for hours about anything; or play a board game until midnight; or watch I Love Lucy with you at 2AM until you fell asleep. Most notably, though, she is known for the immense pride she found in her four girls. She often said they were her greatest accomplishment. Sheryl will be privately cremated and her ashes will be spread by her family at a later date. There will be no formal funeral service. In leu of flowers or gifts feel free to make a donation in honor of Sheryl to: Womens Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans or The Women's Fund for Health Education and Research. The family of Sheryl would like to thank the medical staff of the Michael E. Debakey VA medical center for the outstanding care and commitment she has received over the last two years. They would also like to thank the Cypresswood Health and Rehabilitation Center where Sheryl made many friends both in the residents and the staff. It is because of all of you that she was able to fight so hard for so long. From your children: We love you. We miss you. "I have made you. I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." -Isaiah 46:4