Sherry Kirkpatrick passed away quietly at the Memory Care facility in Springfield, on Sept. 10, 2025, winning her battle with dementia.

Sherry was born in Reedsport, in her grandma Mae’s back bedroom on Dec. 13, 1949, the first child of Ken and Joan (Cox) Wise. Her mother always said Sherry went from crawling to running at less than a year old. When her parents gave her a brother a couple of years later, she made it her goal to be his “spokesperson”; no one thought Scott could talk for two years because Sherry always talked for him. She was a take charge, be in control kind of person. Later, in 1960, her sister Andi was born and while they often would butt heads, there is no love like that between sisters.

Sherry went to grade school in Eugene, until the family moved to Veneta, Ore., in the early 60’s, where she attended Elmira High School. It was there she met her first husband Leonard Cordell. Together, they had Michael (1967) and Michelle (1969). After a subsequent divorce, she met and married Gary Pannell, who went on to adopt her children and they took his name. Sherry met and married her third husband, Roger Kirkpatrick in 1988, and they remained together until she passed.

Sherry never knew a stranger; stand in a grocery line with her for 10 minutes and she would know how many kids you have and where you were born! She was a social butterfly and could (and did) strike up a conversation with anyone!

She had many “loves” in her life: Nascar, Oregon Ducks, San Francisco 49’ers, Monster Trucks, Heartland and Keith Urban. Sherry loved to play pool and was particularly good at it; she even had her own custom-made pool stick! She was a great poker player; once she got a “royal flush” and had it framed. She enjoyed playing Bingo at the local Elks Lodge, and whenever she traveled, she played whenever a game was available. She got involved in a Bunco league here in Burns as well and enjoyed her time playing with friends. When traveling, she rarely passed up a chance to play miniature golf as well.

Sherry always wrote down and remembered everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries, even those of her animals! 

She lived throughout Oregon and spent some time in Fort Jones, Calif., while her husband Roger was logging. She lived in Veneta, Eugene, Sunny Valley, Crow, and finally Burns, where she spent 25 years with her husband Roger, except for her last two months in a Springfield Memory Care Facility due to dementia.

Sherry’s work kept her busy doing secretarial work in various capacities, her last job working for Tim Clemens in his real estate office in Burns/Hines. She also worked for Harney Soil and Water, the Senior Center, and other odd jobs in Harney County.

She loved animals, especially cats and dogs. In her youth, she had a horse, Buffy, who ended up over in Catlow Valley with her grandma and Billy Brezniak, right after she discovered boys and decided they were more fun than horses! 

Sherry loved to dance, loved music and even as her dementia took over, she might not remember the names of people, she remembered the lyrics to songs. She loved nice clothes and pretty jewelry and loved doing her nails. She was always so meticulous about her appearance and required a spare bedroom for her “closet” and a dresser made solely for shoes!

She loved babies and little kids, and especially in later years as dementia took over. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and went over to Eugene often to be with them.

Sherry is survived by her husband, Roger Kirkpatrick (Junction City); her son, Michael (Misty) Pannell (Burns); her daughter, Michelle Pannell (Eugene); her sister, Andi Harmon (Burns); her sister, Leah King (Portland); seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends all over. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ken and Joan Wise; and her, brother Scott Wise. She left an impression in her circle that will forever be felt.