DARLENE RETTA SHERIDAN

SHELDON- Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sheldon Christian Church for Darlene Retta (Phipps) Sheridan, 96, Sheldon, who died Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at her home with family by her side. Interment with Eastern Star services will follow in Sheldon Cemetery.

Arrangements were under the direction of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, Mo.

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday evening, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Sheldon Christian Church or Sheldon Revitalization Association for Sheldon school building preservation.

The obituary may be viewed and condolences sent online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.

Survivors include her four children, twin daughters Delila Brown and husband Bill, Lee’s Summit and Delores Honey and husband Jim, Carthage, another daughter, Phyllis Sprenkle and husband Paul, Sheldon and a son, Lynn Sheridan, Nevada, Mo.; seven grandchildren Vincent Sprenkle, Richland, Wash., Darren Rhoden, Deanna Rhoden and Jeff Honey, all of Lee’s Summit, Lora Phelps, Carthage, Quinn Sheridan, Jefferson City and Breanna Sheridan, Los Angeles, Calif.; 12 great-grandchildren; a sister, Karen Brooks, Carl Junction and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a granddaughter, Valerie Sprenkle; a sister, Wanda Arthur and two infant sisters and an infant brother.

Mrs. Sheridan was born Nov. 30, 1923, in Sheldon, to Ezra and Lila (Sawyer) Phipps. She attended Sheldon grade and high school, graduating in 1941.

Following high school, she studied for her teaching certificate at Southwest Missouri Teacher’s College (now Missouri State University). She then taught in several Vernon County country schools as she continued her education. During WWII, she worked in the Adjutant General’s Office in Kansas City.

She married Theodore “Ted” Sheridan on June 30, 1945, shortly after his return from the war where he had been a Prisoner of War. They lived in Wichita, Kan. for a short time before returning to Sheldon, where together they operated Sheridan Farms. He died June 13, 1997.

Mrs. Sheridan was editor of the Sheldon Enterprise newspaper for several years before it was sold to the Lamar Democrat. She then was a longtime correspondent to both the Lamar Democrat and Nevada Daily Mail newspapers.

Mrs. Sheridan was a substitute teacher for many years at Sheldon School. She was involved with many civic organizations including Vernon County Democrats, 4-H, PTA, American Legion Auxiliary, Eastern Star, Sheldon Library Board, POW Survivors and Spouses and Sheldon Extension Club, Sheldon Picnic Association, Charter member of Sheldon Housing Corporation and Sheldon Senior Citizens. She was honored as grand marshal of both the Sheldon Christmas and Sheldon Picnic parades.

She served for many years as secretary of the Sheldon School Alumni Association and of the Phipps Family Reunion. She was a life-long member of Sheldon Christian Church. Preservation of the original Sheldon High School building was her most recent project.

Her children and grandchildren were the focus of her life. Her benevolence, commitment, determination and generosity to her family, friends and community are appreciated by all who knew her.