DREW, Sheryl

Parker Pioneer, Parker, Arizona - Published on January 8, 2014 - Sheryl Mills Drew, 74, died Jan. 4, 2014 at her home in Parker, Ariz. She was born July 11, 1939 in Nebraska. She was the daughter of B. Wallace Mills and Evelyn Sturgeon Mills. During World War II, the family moved to Lafayette, Ind., where Sheryl’s father taught ship electronics. In 1948, they moved to the family’s ranch in Hay Springs, Neb. Sheryl graduated from Hay Springs High School in 1957. She graduated from Chadron State College in Nebraska in 1961 with a degree in English with a minor was art. Sheryl taught high school for six years in Wyoming, Iowa and Nebraska. She went with her mother on a special “people to people” tour of the Soviet Union in the early 1960s. She married Robert Drew in Hay Springs, Neb. in 1965. They moved to Tucson in 1966 so they could both pursue graduate studies at the University of Arizona. Their older son, Gordon, was born in Tucson. They later had a second son, Eric, who was born in Phoenix. The family moved to Parker in 1968 after Bob Drew accepted a position with Indian Health Services. In 1971, Sheryl joined the staff of the Parker Pioneer as a reporter. She eventually became the paper’s editor. She began teaching at Arizona Western College in 1989. Writing gave Sheryl an outlet for her creative juices. Sheryl was active for a time in the Parker Valley Presbyterian Church. She had a love for music, and could play several instruments. She sang in several choirs. Art was another of her passions. She created sculptures, as well as pen and ink drawings and oil paintings. Sheryl is survived by her husband, Bob; son Gordon and his wife Wendy; son Eric, three grandchildren and her nieces and nephews. Services will be held at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9 in Alumni Hall at Parker High School. Refreshments will be served afterwards.