Sheri Ann Brooks Jeter
On Aug 18, 2022, Sheri Ann Brooks Jeter closed her eyes for the final time on earth, and opened them to gaze on her Lord Jesus Christ. After a 10 year battle with cancer, she is now fully healed and reunited with loved ones in Heaven.
Sheri was born Jan. 30, 1937, to Lester Eugene Brooks and Edyth Marie Price Brooks in Wichita Falls, Texas. After praying for a child for 14 years, Sheri was a miracle baby – one of the first successful artificial insemination babies. Her father was in the delivery room when she was born, much to the displeasure of the nurses. She spent her childhood on the Texas A&M Agricultural Experiment Station at Iowa Park, Texas. Her father was superintendent there and instilled a deep respect for nature from an early age. Sheri’s first job was working at Tom McCarty Music in Wichita Falls. She was an accomplished pianist, organist, and music teacher, eventually playing at many churches in Texas and Oklahoma, often as a paid staff member. Sheri married Jimmie Louis Jeter on July 1, 1953. They lived in Wichita Falls and Iowa Park, while she completed her schooling and began teaching at Hirschi High School in Wichita Falls. After graduating from Iowa Park High School, Sheri enrolled at Midwestern State University, where she graduated Summa cum Laude with a BA in Education and a minor in Art, was a member of honors groups Alpha Pi and Phi Theta Kappa. Going on to earn her Masters in Psychology at SE Oklahoma State University in Durant. She worked on her doctorate in Environmental Education, completing all but her thesis. In 1967, Jimmie was offered his dream job managing the Two Rivers Ranch in Choctaw County, Okla. Sheri finished out the school year with their three eldest daughters, sold their home, packed up and loaded the girls into a station wagon to move to what felt like “the old west” –– a ranch house miles from a paved road. After re-locating to Oklahoma, she began teaching at Fort Towson Elementary and transferred to high school where she taught biology, physics and chemistry until she retired. While at Fort Towson, she was named Teacher of the Year and the Oklahoma Chemistry Teacher of the Year. She was senior class sponsor, and 4-H sponsor. Among her accomplishments was holding the first Science Fair in Choctaw County and watching it grow to other schools. Sheri took a four year break from the classroom to work for Region X Education Service Center, teaching and leading environmental education workshops for teachers state-wide. She led teacher environmental training camps at the OK Geology Camp in Canyon City, Colo., and directed YCC Camps at Lone Wolf, Okla. As one of OK’s pioneer aerospace educators, Sheri worked closely with Estes Model Rockets to develop educational programs. Two highlights were witnessing the launch of one of the Apollo flights, and being present on one of the space capsule recovery ships for another Apollo flight. In 1976, Jimmie and Sheri purchased their own ranch near Soper, where Sheri lived until her death. Her deep appreciation of trees and the role they play in the environment led her to work with Save the Rainforest and the Children’s Rainforest. She spoke in schools, to groups, led workshops, and traveled to rainforests here and abroad. A highlight was taking her grandson, Eran McCullough, to Belize. Sheri was a member of First Baptist Church, Hugo. She played piano and organ, was WMU director for both the church and Frisco Baptist Assn. She traveled with church members to Mexico several times to teach VBS. A life-changing mission trip was to Malawi, Africa with Baptists from throughout the state. Sheri was a member of many organizations, including: Delta Kappa Gamma and Choctaw County Retired Teachers, holding offices including President. She served on the Choctaw County Historical Board and Choctaw County Library Board, when the new Library was built. She was local and district president of GFWC, locally Mothers InterSe, and served on the International Board and as state president 2002–04.
Citizens for a Litter Free Choctaw County Trash Off was started by Sheri and five other women. She actively led the clean-up campaign from its inception in 2002 through the 2022 campaign. It was not uncommon to see her picking up trash on county roads, with grandkids helping. She recruited neighboring
ranchers, school groups, churches even County Commissioners to join the effort. They won many honors for their work, including the US Department of the Interior 2006 Take Pride in America National Award. Sheri received the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Champion Volunteer Award in 2011. Sheri was a world traveler with a sense of adventure. She traveled to all “the usual places” and more than a few exotic ones as well –– scaling the Great Wall in China, riding camels in Egypt, visiting the Galapagos Islands, Easter Island, Patagonia, Australia, New Zealand and Peru to name a few. She loved spending time with her grandchildren; playing games, hunting fossils, weeding the iris, trail riding in the Kiamichi Mountains and along the Illinois River, camping and hiking on her beloved Wind Mountain in northern New Mexico. Sheri was predeceased by her husband of 54 years; her parents, Lester and Edyth Brooks; son-in-law, Tom Richmond; also, her grandparents, cousins and many friends.
She is survived by daughters: Cynthia Ann Jeter Richmond, Kerry Elizabeth Jeter McCullough and husband, Edward, Andrea Louis Jeter Lyles and Carmi Jim Jeter Starwalt; seven grandsons: Eran McCullough and wife, Kristin, Nathan McCullough, Trevor McCullough, John Richmond and wife, Morgan, Ryan Richmond, Jeffrey Lyles, Jr. and Jordan Lyles and wife, Raylen; two granddaughters: Lindy McCullough and Brittany Phillips; greatgrandchildren: Dominique, Shay, William, Tristan, Josh, Isaiah, Jessie, Kiran, Lilly, Eden, Odin, Jamie, Kate, Emma, Anna and Brandon; one great-greatgranddaughter, Emberly.
The family would like to thank Dr. Joan Walker and the entire staff at Stephenson Cancer Center for giving our mom 10 years after her first diagnosis. We also want to express our gratitude to Good Shepherd Hospice, especially Mom’s favorite aid Key, RN Jamie and entire staff. You each helped guide us through these past 2.5 months making Mom comfortable and pain-free. Mike Nunley, there are no words. Thank you is not enough. You opened your home and your heart to help us care for our Mother. Your tolerance, patience and endurance were a Godsend in these last years. You faithfulness in the final sleepless weeks will not be forgotten.
Thank you to all friends and family, for the prayers, cards, letters, visits and phone calls, she loved each one of them.
Celebration of Life for Sheri will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2022 at First Baptist Church, Hugo. Graveside services will follow at 3 p.m. at Oak Grove Cemetery, Woodbine, Texas.
Memorial contributions in Sheri’s honor can be made to the following: First Baptist Church Hugo Mission Fund, 300 E. Jackson St, Hugo, OK 74735; Stephenson Cancer Center Foundation, OU Medicine, Inc, PO Box 248955, Oklahoma City, OK 73124; Good Shepherd Hospice, Hospice Care Foundation, 4350 Will Rogers Pkwy #102, Oklahoma City, OK 73108.
Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book or send private condolences to the family at www.praterlampton.com.
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