Michael Courtney Sherrod

Michael Courtney Sherrod, age 70 of Temple, died Friday, December 29, 2017 at his residence.  A memorial service will be held at a later date.  Mr. Sherrod was born October 3, 1947 at Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, California to Colonel L. Wayne Sherrod and Margaret Ann (Murphy) Sherrod.  He attended Villa St. Jean, International School, Fribourg, Switzerland, during his high school years where he developed his language skills in French, German and Italian.  He graduated from Highland Park High School in Highland Park, Illinois.  He also graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso in June, 1973 where he received his BBA in Finance and graduated from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a master’s degree (MPA) in Public Administration and was recently enrolled in the University of the Rockies working towards his Doctor of Psychology degree.   Mike served in the U. S. Marine Corps from 1966 to 1969, where he attained the rank of corporal upon his honorable discharge.  During his active duty, he served as a field radio operator, teletype operator and Message Center Chief.  In 1974, he was briefly an Officer Candidate while attending Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia.  He was released after an injury precluded him from completion of the course in January, 1974. Upon release from active duty, Mike began his banking career which spanned 17 years.  During his final working years, he was an Economic Developer for the City of Palacios, Texas.   His interest included Amateur Radio where he held an Amateur Extra Class License (WB5PBS).  He was also an active MARS (Military Affiliate Radio System) operator with the Navy-Marine Corps (NNNOFPA).  He was extremely active and life member in the Marine Corps League for over 40 years and held posts in the local, state and national offices.  He was a life member of the Military Order of the Devil Dogs, the fun and honor society of the Marine Corps League and held the distinctive Life Member #6 out of several thousand members.  He held the Marine Corps League’s highest honor as the recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Gold Medal for the effort in saving the life of a fellow veteran at the Veterans Administration Hospital located at Temple as the first responder.  He was a volunteer at the VA Hospital in Temple for many years.   He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Patricia (Pat) Lynn Sherrod.  Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Ann (Thedford) Sherrod, his daughter, Courtney Celeste Lewis and husband, Richard, granddaughter, Maggie Sherrod and grandson, Michael Lewis.  He is also survived by his sister, Cynthia Ann Sherrod of Manchaca, Texas and his brother, Timothy Wayne Sherrod of Garland, Texas.   In lieu of flowers or plants, memorial donations in Michael’s name may be made to Qualls Marine Corps League Detachment of Temple or any veteran’s service organization of one’s choice.