1946-2026
Sherry Ann Stephen, 79, formerly of Ponca City, OK, died Friday, March 13. 2026 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS. We all know she held on until she could make an exit on Friday the 13th.
She was born on August 2, 1946 in Winfield, KS, the daughter of Orville L. and Nina Marie Taylor Krepps. Sherry graduated from Winfield High School in 1964 and later received a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Kansas.
She married Gary Wayne Stephen in 1971 in Winfield wearing a dress more memorable than the groom. They were later divorced.
Sherry rocked it in Las Vegas for years before heading to the IRS in California where she had daily dressed to the nines with statement level necklaces and silver rings. After retiring in California, she returned to Oklahoma to care for her brother and sister-in-law. She took care of them until they passed. Sherry was proud of the care and comfort she had given them.
Sherry was a voracious reader of genres but especially Stephen King. She was a straight talker, always got to the point, and wickedly funny. She loved animals. She especially loved cats and devoted most of her wardrobe proving it. A collector of books, matchbooks, art, pottery, and apparently loved anything from Neiman Marcus and Fredricks of Hollywood. She was a Jayhawk fan and the 49ers were her favorite football team. She had more 49ers memorabilia than any one person needed. However, it made her happy.
Sherry was a SRN resident advocate. She was not only a valued advocate, but took care of the database, entered everyone’s service codes, kept the feral neighborhood cats fed, and the QUEEN of leaving sticky notes. She also printed off and kept Every. Single. Email.
She had dementia but could be maintained at home with her beloved cats. Unfortunately, in 2023, she was moved to a nursing home in Tulsa and later to a nursing home in Rose Hill to be closer to family. These were not happy times. Women like her should always be free.
She lived as an independent woman who knew women’s empowerment was the only way domestic violence would ever end. Sherry was a feminist who believed women should take up space and claim the lead seat at the table when decisions were being made about them.
She was a free spirit, and she is free again.
Graveside and inurnment services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, March 20 at the Highland Cemetery in Winfield, KS.
Arrangements are by Affordable Cremations Plus, Wichita, KS.
