Sheryl Van Doren

Sheryl Lynn (Sherry) Van Doren, age 75, of Wichita Kansas passed away on Saturday,December 16, 2023 at her home. Sheryl was born January 29, 1948 in Wichita to Charley and Wilma (Nickie) Van Doren. She moved to Port Arthur,Texas in 1957 with her mother and stepfather, graduating with honors from Thomas Jefferson High School. She attended Lamar State College in Beaumont Texas and earned a bachelor of science degree in commercial arts. In 1978 she returned to Wichita to care for her ailing grandmother and had lived there ever since. She worked for Slawson Oil Company for several years in the 1980’s. She loved nature and hiking the trails of the many parks in Wichita. She regularly took part in birdwalks and butterfly counts and maintained her yard as a wildlife habitat, feeding the birds and enjoying nature. Never owning a car, she could often be seen riding her bike many miles from home or simply afoot or on the bus. She loved to read and was a weekly volunteer at Evergreen Library for 31 years until COVID suspended the program. She had become very skilled at needle arts, especially knitting, at a young age, making her own clothing as early as high school. She took part in needle arts meetings in Wichita and was known for her helpfulness and skill in “fixing “ other’s knitting problems and teaching them new skills at the Wednesday Hook and Needle Friends at Alford Library. She loved cats and was never without at least one.

Sheryl was preceded in death by her mother and father. She is survived by her sister Kerry Pedigo and family of Nederland Texas, stepmother Donna Van Doren of Fort Worth Texas, stepbrother Jeff Van Doren and family of Arlington Texas and her cat Polyx.

Cremation was under the direction of Culbertson-Smith Mortuary. Memorial donations may be sent to Wichita Public Library, 711 W 2nd Street, Wichita Kansas, 67203.