Sherry Fox

Sherry was born in Oakdale, California to Darrell and Sybil Swatzel and grew up in Springfield, Oregon with her brothers, Gary and Dan. She married her high school sweetheart, Tom Fox, in 1968 and celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary this summer. Together, they raised two children, Alicia Bull and Sean Fox, in their home near Toledo, Washington and enjoyed many fun events and trips with their kids (who married John Bull and Alison Fox, respectively) and their five grandchildren (Bennett, Camden and McGuire Bull and Hudson and Lillian Fox).

Sherry was a leader and public servant in the local community since the 1970s, taking on a variety of roles in the schools and nonprofit organizations.

After moving to the area, she became the volunteer coordinator in the Toledo School District and volunteered extensively in the classroom. Over the years, she was a fixture at the schools, playing a leadership role in many projects, including the establishment of Toledo’s first chapter of Students Against Drunk Driving and critical fundraising activities for the band and choir programs.

Sherry was instrumental in the founding of the Toledo Food Bank in 1987 and led that organization, as president and several other officer roles for more than 25 years. She helped organize the local Walk and Knock fundraiser and inspired several generations of Toledo High School students to volunteer at the food bank.

After her kids went away to college, Sherry shifted her energy to the cause of small forest landowners in Washington state. Between 1993 and 2010, she served in multiple leadership roles for the Washington Farm Forestry Association (WFFA), including Lewis County chapter president, Washington state president and policy coordinator. Sherry was appointed by the governor twice to represent contract loggers and family forest landowners on the Washington State Forest Practices Board between 2001 and 2008. Sherry’s leadership in the policy arena was a testament to her commitment to ensure family forest landowners remain a critical and viable part of the Washington state landscape.

Sherry and her husband, Tom, were dedicated to their own family forestland and were honored as the Lewis County Tree Farmers of the Year in 2003 and the Washington State Tree Farmers of the Year in 2004. In 2005, Sherry and Tom were selected from hundreds of nominees and named the National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year in the United States.

Sherry devoted her life to her family from an early age and was a pillar of strength and support for Tom, Sean and Alicia. She worked side-by-side with Tom to establish and grow their forestry business, Tree Management Plus, which will celebrate its 40th year in 2016. She was always excited to spend significant time with her grandchildren and loved to entertain friends and family at their home. To the end, she maintained a mischievous sparkle in her eyes and always was quick with a comforting hug. She did so much for others and was loved by many. We will miss her dearly and know that her spirit will live on in all of us.

Sherry’s family and friends will celebrate her life Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 at The Loft in Chehalis, 547 NW Pacific Ave, Chehalis, WA 98532. The event will begin with a memorial service at 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner and time for those attending to share stories about Sherry’s life. Live music and dancing, which Sherry loved and would expect all of you to stay for, will cap off the celebration.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation on Sherry’s behalf to the Family Forest Foundation, P.O. Box 1364, Chehalis, WA, 98532. Please note in your memo that the tax-deductible donation is for the Sherry Fox Memorial Scholarship Fund. All donations will be used to establish an annual scholarship in Sherry’s name for a graduating high school student in Lewis County who has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to public service. The immediate family will match all donations received from friends and family.