Obituary of Sherry Amidon Peatross

Sherry Amidon Peatross, 81, of Sun City Center, FL passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, on August 6, 2023.

Born and raised in Triangle, Virginia, Sherry graduated from Garfield High School in 1960. She attended Emory & Henry College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1964 and continued on to Eastern Mennonite University and graduated with a Masters in Religion in 1979.  

Marrying Elliott Reeke in 1964, Sherry moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia and had two children, John and Suzanne.  After Elliott passed away in 1977, Sherry remained in Harrisonburg and was surrounded with incredible love and support of close family and dear friends.

Sherry met Martin Peatross and remarried in 1983, also gaining her stepson Christopher. As the wife of a Marine Corps officer, Sherry and Marty traveled the world making many lifelong friends at their stops along the way. After numerous duty stations, they retired in Sherry’s favorite state of Virginia in 2009.   They moved to Sun City Center, Florida and have lived in Freedom Plaza since 2020.

In 1998 Sherry was diagnosed with Dystonia, a neurological movement disorder.  As it progressed, it became more difficult for her to move and communicate, but even through all of the frustration and pain, Sherry was always kind, thoughtful, positive, and courageous.  She was always clear minded and generous with encouraging words and compliments.  She never gave up and continued to be an inspiration to her family and friends. 

Sherry dedicated her life to being a mother, wife, and teacher, but her greatest joys were her grandchildren, who were always the center of her attention and the light of her life.

God shined great favor in Sherry’s life and she passed those blessings on to everyone she met. She was an inspiration and a gift to all who knew her.

Sherry was preceded in death by her first husband Elliot Reeke, brother John Blaine Amidon, and her parents Henry and Shirley Amidon.

Sherry is survived by her husband Col.(Ret.) Martin Peatross of Sun City Center, Florida, her son John Reeke and wife Jennifer of Clifton, Virginia, her daughter Suzanne Fletcher and husband John of Tampa, Florida, her stepson Christopher Romanelli and wife Emily of Fort Worth, Texas and her seven grandchildren Caleigh, Caden, Sally, Cassidy, Aiden, Lexi and Reed. She is also survived by many family members and friends.

Family will receive visitors at Sun City Center Funeral Home at 1851 Rickenbacker Drive, Sun City Center, Florida 33573 on Friday, August 18, 2023 at 9:00am with a Funeral Service beginning at 9:30am and interment to follow at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave, Bushnell, Florida 33513 at 12:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, friends and family are asked to make a  donation in Sherry’s name to The Dystonia National Research Foundation in Chicago, Illinois at https://dystonia-foundation.org/