May 2, 2023

Linn County News

Published May 3, 2023

Sherry Kay Nelson was born in Stroud, Okla., the youngest child of Olen L. and Jewel A. (Wood) Smith. At a young age, the family moved to a farm near Trading Post, Kan. She graduated from Pleasanton High School in the class of 1969. She married Robert Keith Nelson in La Cygne, Kan., on June 6, 1969. They lived in Fort Scott for a short period of time, moving to Ottawa later that year.

Sherry was employed at Hallmark Cards in Lawrence, Kan., for eight years working in the handwork, bow and ribbon departments. During the construction of the Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant, she worked in quality assurance and document control for Daniel Construction Company. She accepted a position with Wolf Creek working in document control for ten years. Upon leaving Wolf Creek, Sherry was employed by Wal-Mart, working as a photo lab tech, people greeter and cashier. She retired in July of 2017 after twenty years of service; then volunteered at Ransom Memorial Hospital a few days a week.

Sherry loved talking with the Wal-Mart patrons who would purposely look for her checkout line and later would tell her how much she was missed after she retired.

She loved attending her kids and her grandkids’ sporting events, rarely missing a game. During the spring and summer months, she could be seen at a ballpark anywhere from Texas to South Dakota.

Sherry was preceded in death by her parents; son, Jason Nelson; daughter, Kristie Batten; sister, Madeline Slaughter; and brothers, Johnny Smith, Joe Smith, and Terry Smith.

She is survived by her husband of the home; son, Brandon; sister, Bobbie Beasley of Shawnee, Okla.; grandchildren, Chelsey Miller, Dylan Nelson, Bayleigh Nelson, Dysen Batten, Trenidy Batten; and four great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held 1 p.m. on Friday, May 5, 2023, at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kan.

The family will greet friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 4, 2023, at Dengel & Son Mortuary.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Rock Creek Memory Care and Skilled Nursing Center of Ottawa or Harbor Hospice c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kan. 66067.