Sherilyn Marie Thurston

Sherilyn Marie Thurston was born on Oct. 25, 1954, in San Diego, California. She was the oldest child of Shirley and Ernest Yoes. She was the big sister to Pam and Michael. Sheri was always the creative one in the family. She knew how to knit and crochet. She enjoyed crafts of all sorts and made Christmas stockings, pillows, ornaments, memory books, decorations, and anything else that caught her fancy. She was extremely good at sewing. In high school, she took a class in tailoring and won an award in a sewing competition for sewing and tailoring a dress and coat. As she got older, she would sew clothes, curtains, baby clothes, and quilts. She participated in all the decoration contests in the workplace, including coming up with fantastic pumpkin carving ideas each year. She loved baking and made delicious cookies and treats. Gardening was a favorite hobby of hers as well. She grew everything from succulents, vegetables and herbs, boysenberry bushes, and fruit trees.

Sherilyn married and had two children – Robert and Katherine (Katie) Thurston. She became a single mom while the children were still very young. Sherilyn went to school and got a degree as an LVN, then a Registered Nurse, and she finally achieved her Master’s Degree and became a Nurse Practitioner. She worked at Mercy Hospital and then got a job with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services. She worked in the areas of prenatal care, newborns, and elder care. Her last position with the County was helping with foster children.

Sherilyn had two grandchildren, Alyssa and Christopher, who were her daughter Katie’s children. Sherilyn took over as their legal guardian and raised them since they were young.

Sherilyn was an animal lover and always had pets. As she grew up, she had cats, dogs, chickens, rabbits, birds, hamsters, frogs, and horned lizards as pets, though thankfully not all at the same time. Her last pets were two chihuahuas, Penelope and Liliana.

Sherilyn loved music. She took piano lessons when she was young. Sherilyn had an ear for music and could play songs on the piano without having written music. She also learned to play the organ and accordion.

The last four years as she battled cancer were difficult, but Sherilyn kept a positive attitude and saw each day as a gift, even as she underwent surgeries, procedures, and chemo. Her thoughts were mainly of her grandkids and trying to be there for them. A compromised immune system kept her from seeing people much during the last few years, but she did her best to stay in touch with friends, family, and her church online or by phone.

Sherilyn was loved by her family and respected by friends and those who worked with her. She was smart, funny, and had a beautiful personality. She made a difference and will be greatly missed. The family members she leaves behind include two aunts, Barbara and Leta, her brother and sister, one child, two grandchildren, and several cousins.