Sherri Lynn Stevens

Sherri Lynn Stevens, devoted Christian and beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, was in the company of family when she died in her home in Newport Beach, California on June 28, 2026 at the age of 63. Sherri was born on March 28, 1963 to Phillip and Joan Stevens. Her greatest legacies are the love she shared and her passion for Jesus. She had a gift for valuing people as they were. Her faith, energy, enthusiasm, love, smile, and joy were unforgettable.

Sherri deeply loved, and was devoted to, her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Phil and Joan Stevens. She is survived by her brother Greg Stevens (Ivy); sister Kim Carpenter (Blake); nieces and nephews Rosalie Yeager (Dave) and children Hayes and Tatum; Jackson Stevens; Kerry Carpenter (Danyelle); Lila Noffsinger (Kenneth) and children Annabel, Grace, James, and Hazel Sherri; Chris Carpenter (Natalie) and children Benaiah, Phinehas, Jael, and Eliana.

In elementary school, Sherri collected a striking number of Citizen of the Month awards and had a reputation as a friend to all and a guard against bullies. Sherri was extremely athletic. At Corona del Mar High School she played shortstop in softball and point guard in basketball, despite her small stature and nickname, “Little Pea.” She was a lifelong adventurous skateboarder and a passionate football enthusiast. Sherri’s first job was delivering newspapers on her bicycle. Then as a teen she painted parking meter poles and collected parking fees, and eventually started a boat cleaning business, in which she and her team cleaned the hulls of yachts. Sherri graduated from UC Santa Barbara, where she earned a sociology degree and discovered her passion for art history. When visiting European museums with her family, her enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge had her often mistaken for a docent. After graduation, Sherri spent nearly three years backpacking around the world, primarily spending time in developing countries. When she returned home, she had a variety of jobs which included being a realtor and the basketball coach at her high school alma mater. Sherri was also a highly sought-after personal trainer, due to her passion for fitness and her success as bodybuilder. Later she worked in a group home while also taking finance classes. She asked her finance professor to be her mentor, because, as Sherri would say, “You should hook your wagon to someone who is getting personal results.” Sherri thoroughly enjoyed financial investing and was quite successful at it. As Sherri’s parents aged, she was pleased to step into a caretaking and companion role, and she lived with and devotedly assisted them in their older years.

When Sherri was 30 years old she became a Christian. Her faith quickly became the core of her life. She adored studying her Bible and worshipping God. Her faith in Jesus Christ as her savior filled her with peace, joy, and hope. Her intense studying and research of the Bible grew her into a knowledgeable theologian. She loved to testify about Christ and was an enthusiastic and capable evangelist. She changed many people’s lives as she taught about Jesus and lived out his message by shining joy despite hardships and wholeheartedly caring for people.

In Sherri’s later years, she became an author, poet, and digital creator. She wrote an essay about Multiple Chemical Sensitivy called “MCS: Today’s Canaries are Humans,” as well as three books about her faith: a children’s book, a poetry book, and a theology book. She shared her faith on social media and had longform essays on her blog. She thoroughly enjoyed the online conversations about Christianity she had with many people who reached out to her from various countries and faiths.

Sherri battled debilitating medical conditions for over 25 years. She suffered from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and numerous autoimmune disorders. She was a valiant and very tough survivor through very hard times. She was always researching and trying new avenues to promote her health, even when those avenues involved serious sacrifice. And through it all, “Sherri Sunshine,” as she was known, never stopped spreading joy or helping people. Even as her health declined and she could no longer leave her home, she continued to brighten the day of anyone who came to her house. She was always ready with a smile, an encouraging word, and a Bible in a DoorDasher’s native language.

Sherri deeply loved the Lord. She deeply loved her family and friends and was always there for them. She loved to fill people with strength, hope and encouragement and had a special place in her heart for the hurting. Her lively mojo, her jubilant smile, her contagious fun, her deep insights, her effervescent joy, her inspiring faith, and her fierce love will be deeply missed. She will be forever remembered by those who were blessed to know her.

A small private service was held for Sherri at Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary in Corona del Mar, California on July 11, 2026.