Sherry Adams, 67, of Libby

Sherry Marie (Gamache) Adams, 67, went to be with her Savior on May 18, 2014 after a valiant fight with lung disease from exposure to asbestos. She passed away peacefully in her home and was surrounded by love, faith and family.

She was born April 10, 1947 in Libby, the daughter of Peggy June Owen Evans and Leroy Louis Gamache. Her mother, Peggy, and great-grandmother, Emma Evans, raised Sherry.

She was united in marriage to Duane Leon Anderson on August 5, 1963 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and they made their home in Libby. They were blessed with two beautiful children, Leon Earl Anderson, born in 1964, and Amber Lynne Anderson, born in 1968. Her loving husband, Duane, passed away June 17, 1987, in Seattle, Wash.   

In the spring of 1989 Sherry decided to begin a new chapter in her life and moved to Sedro-Woolley, Wash., where most of her siblings resided. There she met Daniel Adams and the two were joined in heart and marriage Nov. 29, 1992.

Dan and Sherry spent 22 years living life to the fullest doing all their favorite things. Sherry loved making a home for Dan and herself. She had a passion for life, cooking, gardening, being Dan’s biker babe on the back of his Harley, black powder shooting at rendezvous, going to the gym, camping, beading, crocheting, having a glass of wine with friends. Always in her heart and on her mind was love for her family.

Sherry was the family historian. We are thankful for her interest and the ancestry trail she created. She carried the blood of the Cherokee Nation with a bit of the Hatfield persuasion. She was very proud of both.

She is survived by her husband, Daniel, of the family home in Burlington, Wash.; son, Leon Anderson of Post Falls, Idaho; two daughters, Amber Benefield and her partner, Gary Good, of Libby and Janel Adams Woiwod and her husband, Eric, of Sedro-Woolley, Wash.; nine grandchildren, Duane Michel Benefield of Libby, Christina Marie Benefield of Moscow, Idaho, Byron Fisher Benefield of Bozeman, Ashley Kay Barr and Amanda Rose Anderson of Rathdrum, Idaho, McKayla Breanne Anderson and Katrina Logan Anderson of Post Falls, Idaho and Gracie Rose and Allie Woiwod of Sedro-Woolley, Wash.; two great-grandchildren, Trinity Rose Christiansen of Rathdrum, Idaho and Leonidus Turner Millar of Post Falls, Idaho; two brothers, Robert Mitchell and his wife, Dee, of Concrete, Wash. and Butch Allum of Sedro-Woolley, Wash.; three sisters, Wonona Kaaland and her husband, Don, of Sedro-Woolley, Wash., Tina Mitchell-Chapel and partner, Vern Montgomery, of Eureka and Linda Allum-Cushen of Sedro-Woolley, Wash.; step-dad, Theodore Allum, Sr. of Sedro-Woolley, Wash.; second parents, Shorty and Ethel Adams of Lyman, Wash.; one cousin, Darrell Katarzy, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Duane Leon Anderson; mother, Peggy June Allum; father Leroy Louis Gamache; aunt and uncle, Betty Jean and Otto Katarzy; granddaughter, Aubrey Rose Woiwod; cousin, Michael Katarzy and little brother and best friend, Wayne Douglas Mitchell.

The family wishes to express a thank you to the loving caregivers of Hospice of the Northwest. Jesse, we could not have made it without you. A special thanks to her sister, Tina, who left her family in Montana to care for her sister. Tina, we all love you.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Northwest, 227 Freeway Dr., Suite A, Mount Vernon, Wash. 98273 or to Shriners Hospital for Children, 911 W. 5th Ave., Spokane, Wash. 99204, where Sherry spent a year of her childhood.

At Sherry’s request, no service will be held. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Share memories of Sherry and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com

To you who knew and loved her: “We all have wounds, but you can’t let that be an excuse to sit on the sidelines. Sometimes in life you have to play in pain.”