Sherry Marie (Quarles) Graham
A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Blue Baptist Church in Durant, Oklahoma, for Sherry Marie (Quarles) Graham, 79, who died August 9, 2026, in Mansfield, Texas.
The daughter of David and Joyce Marie (Clifton) Quarles, Sherry was born June 26, 1947, in Durant, Oklahoma. Sherry married Gary Graham on February 1, 1969.
Sherry graduated from Blue High School in 1965, and she earned a B.S. from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1969. Her employment included service to Mountain View College, Grand Prairie ISD’s South Grand Prairie High School, Southeastern Electric Cooperative, Bryan County Treasurer’s Office, and as a grant administrator for Collin County MHMR. Sherry served at Mayes Elementary in Denison ISD until her final retirement.
Sherry was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gary Graham on June 10, 1999; her parents; sisters, Linda Quarles and Sandra Burns; brothers-in-law, Ronnie Burns, Melvin Graham, and Bob Graham; sister-in-law, Mary Morris; in-laws, Bill and Lois Graham; and nephews, Michael, Marty, and Paul Graham.
Sherry will be remembered lovingly by her daughter, Dr. Casey Graham Brown; her son-in-law, Dr. Brian Brown; and her treasured granddaughters, Caroline Brown and Camilla Brown; sister-in-law, Melba Graham; brother-in-law, Steve Graham (Charlotte); nieces and nephews, Robin Anderson (Mike), Bailey Hayes (Garrett), Reilly Cates (Southern), Ford Anderson (Lesley), Stephany Cochran (Jeff), Sheryl Toups (Wilton), Penny Bachle (Jim); Perry Graham (Meloney), and Stephen Graham (Kelli).
Education was important to Sherry, and she encouraged those she loved to learn, work hard, and make the most of every opportunity. She was especially proud of the accomplishments of her daughter and granddaughters and delighted in watching them learn, grow, and pursue their professional paths.
There may be no better way to describe Sherry than with her favorite quote: “Find a need and fill it.” Sherry served her church and community and found ways to make life better for others. She had a deep compassion for and a heart ready to respond to those who were in need, lacked an advocate, or were vulnerable; helping others was part of who she was.
Sherry enjoyed reading, sewing, antiquing, volunteering, and politics. Above all, she was devoted to her faith and family. She loved Jesus and Blue Baptist Church. Sherry was a loving wife, mother, and Grammy, and her granddaughters were her greatest joys. She never missed an opportunity to talk about Camilla and Caroline and share their accomplishments with anyone who would listen. Sherry’s love for her daughter, son-in-love, and granddaughters was unmistakable and overflowing. She also loved her dog, Angel, who brought her much happiness.
Sherry believed strongly in showing up and doing the work. She often told her family, “If you must get sick, get sick on Friday night. You can be sick on Saturday and Sunday too, but you must be well and back to work by Monday.” It was more than an expression; it was how Sherry lived. She exemplified resilience, responsibility, and the importance of caring for others. She followed her own rule until the end: she became critically ill on Friday, remained sick Saturday and Sunday, and passed away late Sunday afternoon, surrounded by loved ones.
Sherry approached life with a heart ready to serve. And now she is in the one place where there are no needs to meet and no problems to solve. May she rest in the peace of knowing that she has done her work well, loved her people fiercely, and left this world better because she was here.