Obituary
Sharon Lynn Dayhoff (Sherry) passed away in Overland Park, Kansas (near Kansas City) from complications due to Parkinson’s disease on Friday, May 17, 2024 at the age of 71. She was surrounded by her lifelong friends and sorority sisters, Nancy Chalmers and Nan Berry, as well as her care team who had grown to know and love her.
Sherry was born on November 11, 1952 in Rome, New York to parents Charles S. Dayhoff II (Chuck) and Bernice H. Dayhoff (Bernie). She grew up with older brother Charles S. Dayhoff III (Skip) and Freckles the dog in the Catholic Italian neighborhood with snowy winters and hot summers filled with sailing competitions at the local yacht club. She participated in Girl Scouts, with her mother Bernie as the troop leader. She graduated from Rome Free Academy High School, New York in 1970 and received her Bachelor of Science from Baker University, Kansas in 1974.
Sherry was a Business Science-Economics major in college and a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She served as the sorority House Manager, and later served on the Sorority House Corporation in an alumni capacity following graduation. She remained lifelong friends with her sorority sisters and a member of the Zeta book club. After graduation she went to work for the Social Security Administration as a Claims Representative in Wichita, KS, retiring after 31 years.
Her hobbies included photography, finance, genealogy, a love of nature and animals, travel, and spending time with her friends and family. As a young woman, she traveled to the French Mediterranean to visit her brother Skip while he served in the Navy. As an adult, she traveled regularly to Florida to visit him and his family. She also enjoyed snow skiing in Colorado. She traveled to Churchill, Canada to photograph polar bears and Beluga whales, to Yellowstone to see wolves and other wildlife, and took a whale-watching cruise to Alaska. She was entertained for several years by her pet guinea pigs, Fred and Barney, and was “mom” to her 15-year-old dachshund/Jack Russell terrier, Addie.
Her friends describe her as the most genuine person they have ever met. She was kind, generous, compassionate, funny, and always had a positive attitude toward life. Her family fondly remembers her love of the classic Pink Panther movies, how she was a deadly opponent at Trivial Pursuit, and a loyal fan of the Kansas City Chiefs football, Kansas City Royals baseball teams (especially George Brett), and Taylor Swift. She selflessly devoted over a decade of her life to the caretaking of her parents who lived into their early nineties and ultimately passed away from Alzheimer’s disease.
She is survived by her brother Charles S. Dayhoff III (Skip), her niece Darcy K. Berry, her grandniece Deirdre C. Berry, and her nephew Charles S. Dayhoff IV. Her service will be held at Langsford Funeral Home in Lee’s Summit, Missouri on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Her friends and family express their gratitude to the many individuals who cared for Sherry, especially: the staff at Alto (Rose and Leandra were two special ladies among many others), Brighton Hospice Staff, and Always There Health Care aids (in particular Joana Starnes who insisted to stay with Sherry until the end). In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (https://give.michaeljfox.org/give/489725/#!/donation/checkout ).
“And as to those of us who knew and loved Sharon . . . well now, weren’t we the lucky ones?” – Nan Berry
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Visitation
Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
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Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
The loveliest of tributes to a remarkable human being.
Sharon was a dear person, funny, humble and genuine. We worked together in Wichita for 15 years, and on the rare occasions when we were together after that, I could count on her to be the same down-to-earth friend I had treasured. Godspeed, Sharon.
I was lucky enough to be one of Sharon’s health care aids. She was always smiling and making jokes, loved listening to Taylor swift and Queen. She showed me pictures she took and told me the adventures behind them. We’d talk about football and watch tv together. I always admired her bright spirit. She was one of the reasons why I love my job.
Sharon and I worked together and also took several lovely nature trips. We went to Yellowstone in winter twice. One time was to observe wolves. We went to Churchill Canada once in winter to see Polar Bears and once in summer to see Beluga whales. We went out on Hudson Bay in a Zodiac boat to see the whales. We took a helicopter ride over Hudson Bay where we saw whales in the water and A Polar Bear on land. Sharon was always interested and asked great questions. Her fellow travelers appreciated her positive attitude. Sharon was a talented photographer who took great photos of the Polar Bears. I treasure our time together.
Of eight Dayhoff cousins Sherry was the 3rd youngest and the first to join her parents and aunts and uncle. We never lived close enough to visit often. After reading the tributes I’m sorry we didn’t get the opportunity to get to know each other. Thank you to all who knew, loved, and cared for her.