Sherralynne O'Shields

Sherralynne Sanvrae O’Shields, age 58, died on February 10, 2023 as a result of a sudden illness.

Sherralynne was born November 29, 1964 in Orange County California as the daughter of Lynne Marie (Johnston) O’Shields of Fruita, Colorado, and the late James Wilburn O’Shields.  Lynne and James later divorced and Sherralynne remained with her mother.  She grew up in various states but the majority of time was in Western Colorado.  She was known by several nicknames like Sherrie, Sherral, Sherra and to some she was Motor Mouth, Cricket, Mom, Momma or Sis.

Sherrie attended High School at Fruita Monument and Grand Junction High schools where she was active in Marching Band.  She was proficient in the use of the Flute and the Piccolo.  She took a break from school for a few years and went to Texas later returning to complete her high school education at R-5 High School where she eventually graduated in May 1987 and in October of 1987 she joined the U.S. Navy.  Sherra spent 8 years in active duty service aboard the USS Puget Sound, USS Acadia and USS Abraham Lincoln.  She spent time in the Mediterranean, earned her Shellback (a military award for being aboard ship as it crosses the Equator), Hawaii and so many more places as she was stationed on ships from the eastern seaboard and the west coast.  “Cricket” as she was known to many, truly loved serving however life called her in another direction and she was Honorably Discharged in October of 1995 due to a reduction in the armed forces.  She ended her enlistment as a SH3 (E-4) and also completed a secondary occupation as a Shipboard Barber in June 1994.

After the Navy, Sherral relocated and settled down in Missouri where she married James William Green, Jr. in December 1995 and expanded her family with a son, James William Green III in March of 1999 and a daughter, Anita Lynne Green in April of 2003.  Sherral also attended Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri where she obtained her Associate’s Degree in Law Enforcement (Dec. 1998), Associate of Arts Degree in Elementary Education (May 2000) and an Associate of Applied Sciences Degree in Information of Technology Systems (May 2015).  Sherral relocated to Western Colorado in 2017 and ended her marriage to “J” shortly thereafter.  In 2019 she moved to Georgetown and in 2020 moved to Granby, Colorado with her companion / partner Michael Romine.  Sherral worked with Michael in his wood cutting business and was a cashier at the Sinclair Station in Granby where she managed to work a lot of hours and apply her high sarcasm sense of humor to the daily rigors of teaching folks from other places how to use a fuel pump.  Prior to this endeavor she worked multiple other “jobs” in the fuel and fast food industries to include places like Subway, McDonalds and others over the years.   Sherral was also involved in the lives of her siblings and family on her father’s side for the greater part of her adult life.  Her father, Jim, spent time with her in Missouri and her brother, Michael, has lived with her off and on over the years.  She was also a Disabled Veteran.

Sherralynne was well known for her skills in crochet and knitting with a very special little blanket she made for all the new arrivals known as “The Swaddle Blanket.”  She also enjoyed puzzles, various crafts, canning, music, house plants and outdoor gardening and landscaping.  She loved mowing the lawn on the John Deere riding mower. She was an avid Broncos fan and purple was her favorite color.

Sherralynne was preceded in death by her grandparents, Herbert and Elsie Johnston of Fruita, Jesse Curtis and Bunner Roseta O’Shields of North Carolina,  her father, James “Jim” O’Shields of Florida, a cousin, John J. Lofstedt of Grand Junction and an Uncle, Elwyn “Bud” Johnston of Fruita.  She is survived by her mother, Lynne Marie Ruegger, her Uncle Levi Johnston, her Aunt Fern Seal, all of Fruita.  She is also survived by her children, James Green and Anita Green and her ex-husband “JW” all of Missouri and her siblings Jamarie “Jamie” (Wayne) Head of Hotchkiss, Blaise (Jessica Riggs) Daverin of Grand Junction, Brian O’Shields of Florida, Michael O’Shields of Grand Junction, Amy DeWitt of Florida, her companion Michael Romine of Granby, Colorado and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews from all over the nation.

Sherralynne was a registered organ, tissue and eye Donor with the state of Colorado and Donor Alliance.  Upon her death she was able to donate her organs (heart, liver, lungs and kidneys were transplanted to six recipients on February 14, 2023) along with her eyes and other bone and tissue to make a difference in the lives of many others.  Her generous gift is just a small token of her passion for life.

A graveside Memorial Service is being planned for May 20, 2023 at Elmwood Cemetery in Fruita, Colorado.

Services have been entrusted to Brown’s Cremation and Funeral Services, Grand Junction, CO.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to DAV (Disabled American Veterans), the Veterans Administration or to medical research concerning fibromyalgia.