WILLIS, Sherri

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Tuesday, September 15, 2009 Sherri passed away on Sept. 9, 2009, after a heroic battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). She was 60 years old. Sherri was born to Lola and Don Dixon in Inglewood, Calif. The family moved to Oregon for a few years and then returned to Southern California. Sherri graduated from Port Hueneme High School, which she attended with her brothers Patrick, Kenneth, James; stepsisters, Peggy and Barbara; and stepbrother, John Foglesong. Sherri married Gary Peeler, and they moved to Sacramento, where she raised her sons, Kevin and Mark. She had a successful 30-year career in sales and marketing and management. Sherri’s tenacious spirit led her to excel in the banking industry, real estate and yacht sales. Sherri’s smile could light up a room. She was generous, loving, dignified and graceful. Her smile shone even brighter when she married Dean, her best friend and soul mate. She loved being on the water and turned that passion into a career. After many successful years in his business, Hoig‘s Marine, Sherri and Dean retired to Lake Havasu City. There she pursued her love of golf. Sherri and Dean lived on the golf course in Lake Havasu City and belonged to the London Bridge Golf Club. Sherri was always working at improving her golf game. She organized many tournaments, and she was quite competitive. Sherri shared her talents by chairing and supporting a variety of charitable events. Sherri’s other passions were Dean, boating, fishing, traveling and most of all golfing with her golfing buddies. Sherri enjoyed the many wonderful trips with her mother, Lola with whom she was very close. Sherri and Dean enjoyed traveling in their motor home. Travel took them throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada with friends and family. Sherri was particularly drawn to the warm blue waters of the Florida Keys. She was very proud of Dean’s talent and ability to build classic cars and enjoyed many trips to car shows with the "Over the Hill Gang" car club. Son, Kevin and his wife, Stacie gave her two beautiful granddaughters, Kaitlyn and Kelsey, whom she loved very dearly. Sherri was so excited about being a grandmother. Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren. When Sherri was diagnosed with ALS, she began treatment at UCSF. The commute from Lake Havasu City to San Francisco was a very long trip, which became difficult for Sherri to make. Sherri, Dean and Lola moved temporarily to Roseville where she could be closer to treatment and family. Sherri will be remembered for her kindness, beauty, vivacious personality and enthusiasm for everything she did. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, daughter, grandmother and a good friend to many.