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Sheryl was born April 7, 1939 at the family farm in rural Peculiar. She was the eldest child of John L. Garten and Glessie I. Garten (Phillips).
She married Donald Gene Harper Sr. on May 18, 1957 at Harrisonville Baptist Church. They were blessed with six children Donnie, Jonalin, Sherri, Jeff, John Philip, and Tim.
Sheryl lived most of her life in and around Peculiar and worked as Postmaster at Peculiar Post office, where she retired. She also worked as the secretary for the Superintendent of Raymore-Peculiar School District for many years. She played the piano at Peculiar First Baptist Church and Pleasant Prairie Baptist Church.
Sheryl was preceded in death by her beloved sons, Jeffrey Harper and John Philip Harper, her parents John and Glessie Garten and one brother J. L. Garten Jr.
Cherishing her memory are her loving husband of 67 years Donald Gene Harper Sr., her surviving children Donald Harper Jr. (Julie), Hutchinson KS, Jonalin Witt (Larry), Raymore, MO, Sherri Catron, Harrisonville, MO, and Timothy Harper (Janet), Ft. Scott, KS; two sisters, Saleta Hentschel (David), Dee Ora Hunter (Joe), one brother, Mark Garten (Gale); ten grandchildren: Amanda, Matthew, Laura, Ashleigh, Zach, Michael, Katie, Seth, Jonathan, and Shaydon – plus numerous beloved great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 28th at 1:00pm at the First Baptist Church of Freeman, 303 N. Washington St, Freeman, MO 64746. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Mount Carmel Hospice left in care of Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, PO Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guest book at cheneywitt.com.
