Maureen Sherrie Klayton

Sherrie Klayton, 77, left this world on July 9, 2023, to join her mother and father, Beverly and William Wolf. She died peacefully at home, attended by her loving husband, Alan. Sherrie was born Maureen Sherrie Wolfe in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and was a Colorado Springs resident for 45 years.

Sherrie attended Penn State and became an elementary school teacher. In 1977, Sherrie and Alan moved to Colorado Springs when he was assigned to the faculty at the Air Force Academy. Sherrie quickly became involved and deeply committed to serving the Air Force as an active spouse and member of the Academy community. She was deeply patriotic and took great pride in being of service as a military wife. Over the years, she organized many parties and events for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She was an active member of the Air Force Officer’s Wives Club, and was given an award for her many years of service as a volunteer at the Air Force Academy Thrift Shop. Sherrie and Alan hosted cadets, and she was a board member and chair of the Colorado Springs Veterans Parade.

Sherrie exemplified the idea of “Service Before Self”. In addition to her activities supporting the Air Force Academy, she participated in the Colorado Leadership Council, sang with the Colorado Springs Choral Society, actively supported and volunteered for the Black Rose Acoustic Society, volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and the gift shop at Temple Shalom.

Sherrie was an awarded photographer and a published writer, and had a talent for coming up with the most amazing and creative costumes for costume parties. Always reaching out and sharing sunshine with the people she came into contact with, she would go out of her way to talk to people’s superiors about what a phenomenal job they had done, and would always prepare baskets of baked goods for everyone from the trash men, to her doctors and of course all her friends and neighbors at holiday time.

Sherrie recognized the value in everyone she met, and spoke of and treated each person as if they were special and important. She was genuinely enthusiastic about life and felt deep love for those she knew.

Growing up in New Jersey, her whole life Sherrie felt a deep emotional connection to the Jersey Shore, her family, and all of her memories there. For her, not living there with her family was a difficult personal sacrifice that she made in support of her husband and daughters, and in service to the country.

Sherrie is survived by her loving husband, Ret. Brigadier General Alan Klayton, her daughters Jennifer Lentschke (Lex) of Driftwood, TX, and Lauren Klayton of Colorado Springs, her brother Gary Wolfe (Robin) of Oceanport, NJ, her sister Lori Saybolt (Rich) of Shrewsbury, NJ, and grandchildren Caden, Amrie, Amaryllis, Chance and Ryder. She was predeceased by her grandson, Trey Lentschke.

Sherrie was also very close with her extended family in New Jersey and will be missed by her nephews and nieces and their children. Brian (Jen) and their daughters Olivia and Alexandra; Eric (Danielle) and their children Ella, Gwen and Ryan; Matthew (RickieLee), and their daughters Parker and Lillian; and Greg (Molly); and Jade.

Maureen Sherrie Klayton will be interred at the Air Force Academy cemetery on July 17, 2023. A memorial service in her honor will take place in the Memorial Pavilion on the cemetery grounds at 2 pm.

Donations in lieu of flowers, in honor of Sherrie’s memory may be made to the Colorado Springs Veteran’s Parade or to the Black Rose Acoustic Society.