Sharon Elizabeth (Sherry) Birdsall, 73, passed away peacefully at the Provo Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on January 30, 2017.

She had endured fragile health for many years, including suffering with severe arthritis.

Sherry was the beloved daughter of William Arnold and Marcel Julee (Miller) Birdsall, deceased in 2004 and 2006, respectively.

She is survived by her brother Mark William (Kathy) and family, and cousins who knew and loved her.

Sherry was born in Inglewood, California, on May 25, 1943. She loved the ocean, and for many years would take a week's vacation at Laguna Beach and enjoy the sun and the peaceful rolling of the waves. When she later moved to Provo, Utah, she stated that the location would be perfect if Utah Lake had been the Pacific Ocean.

As a teenager, Sherry loved to dance and received a scholarship in modern dance. She both performed and choreographed dance. She also found expression in other arts, including drawing, hooking rugs, and writing songs.

Sherry had excellent taste in clothes and dressed beautifully. She participated in the Ms. Rheingold beauty pageant. She worked at a number of jobs over the years, including as a legal typist, a waitress at a Disneyland restaurant, a sales clerk at a fashionable clothing store, and a sales clerk for jewelry at Gemco. Her sense of style and enthusiasm for beauty helped her advise customers on clothing and jewelry.

Sherry loved music, particularly the performances of Ray Charles and Mahalia Jackson.

She was a deeply spiritual person. When Sherry was faced with deep emotional difficulties, she had a set of 3 by 5 cards containing biblical scriptures that she would review for comfort. Many of the passages were from the Psalms.

At age 29, Sherry was baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved to serve as a visiting teacher and for a time visited people at the nursing center where she later lived. She loved going to the temple and she did research regarding her ancestors at the BYU genealogical center.

For many years, Sherry lived in what she called “my cottage home” behind her landlord’s home in Provo. There she adopted a stray cat or two, loving and feeding them. She carefully arranged her many knick-knacks, gifts from family and friends. She wrote notes and made calls, staying in touch with those she loved. She drove around in her two-door yellow Mustang for many years, which seemed to fit her style and zest for life. Yellow was her favorite color.

Sherry planned her funeral service a number of years ago. In connection with these plans, Sherry wrote the following:
“I wish to bear my testimony that I know without question that the Book of Mormon is true scripture, that Joseph Smith, Jr. was the first prophet of the Restoration. Also all of the prophets are ongoing prophets of the Lord.

“I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I believe and know that all things pertaining to the Gospel of Jesus Christ are, too.

“The Gospel, my testimony of it all, my membership in the Church, my temple recommend and patriarchal blessing, the scriptures, all of it, and knowing that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world, all these are the greatest blessings that I have and mean the most to me. I have been blessed all of my life with great blessings; these however are the most important to me. I am grateful beyond measure.

“I love my Heavenly Father, Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Ghost with all of my heart. Grateful for family sealings in God’s Temples. The greatest joys in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 4, at 11 a.m. at the LDS chapel located at 376 North 700 West in Provo, Utah.

A viewing will be held that morning from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the church.

Her body will be interred next to her parents' graves at the Provo City Cemetery.