How do you sum up a life well lived? This question is worth pondering and I have tried to answer it briefly in the following tribute. With deep sadness and loss, I announce the death of my lifelong soul mate Sheryl Hulmston on July 13, 2020 after their courageous battle against liver cancer. Sheryl was born on March 22, 1952 in Vernal, Utah to Tom and Joanne Snyder. Much of her early life was spent in Phoenix, Arizona, where she graduated from Saguaro High School in 1970. After graduation, Sheryl moved to Ogden to attend Weber State College. She earned a Bachelor of Integrated Studies with a focus on childhood education and anthropology. She worked as a distance learning specialist for the University of Utah, where her responsibilities were traveling to high schools in Northern Utah to set up distance learning programs that would enable high school teachers to reach their students in sparsely populated areas. Sheryl was greatly respected by her colleagues, students, and teachers she taught in the distance learning programs she coordinated.
As the oldest of four children, Sheryl was often put in charge of their care. She loved her siblings dearly and tried to keep in touch with them all her life. Surviving family members include her soul mate and husband John, Brandywine, Maryland, her brother Scott Snyder (Cindy), Vernal, Utah, sisters Stephanie Leek (Bruce), Sydney Firth (Dan), and Stacey Snyder. She was also very close to her stepdaughter Brandy Hulmston, Ogden, Utah. Sheryl was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.
Sheryl spent most of her childhood in the company of her beloved maternal grandparents, whom she affectionately called “Mama Opal” and “Daddy Roy” Showalter. She especially loved spending time on her ranch in the remote Northwest Colorado area. Sheryl was happiest at the ranch. At the ranch she was in her element, working and riding horses and helping her grandmother prepare meals for the many ranch owners, friends and family members. She grew up in this arena where Sheryl developed her love for all animals. She was a committed advocate of humane treatment of all animals. She has volunteered for countless hours in animal shelters and rehabilitation centers for abused animals in both Utah and Maryland. It was a testament to her character as a person and the limitless compassion and devotion with which she has lived all of her life.
The next big challenge in her life came in November 2000 when Sheryl and I moved to Maryland where I accepted a new job offer. We lived in beautiful woodland in southern Maryland for the next 18 years. After we retired, Sheryl and I spent our final years with what we loved most; Spend time antiquing, gardening, and enjoying the company of our “Maryland family,” the bakers; Darrell, Lisa and their beautiful daughters Amber, Sydney and Zoie.
I barely touched Sheryl’s many qualities. She was never someone to speak of, but she was sure of her own right to leave these judgments to others. Sheryl was very much loved. She lived her life with grace, kindness, compassion, and tolerance. Really a well lived life.
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