Sherry Lynn Watson
9/22/1952 - 9/16/2025
Sherry Lynn Watson, 73, passed away peacefully Tuesday evening, September 16, 2025, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. (Details on the Celebration of Sherry’s Life can be found at the bottom of this passage.) She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, Mimi, and friend.
Born Sherry Lynn Steedly on September 22, 1952, in Louisville, Kentucky, Sherry led a life dedicated to providing a nurturing and supportive love to all those blessed to be a part of it.
Sherry attended Southern High School, where she had an insatiable desire to learn. While there she made many lifelong friends and began a relationship with her future husband, Glenn Watson. Sherry and Glenn graduated from Southern High School in the summer of 1970. Sherry’s love and aptitude for STEM courses, as well as her love for the Wildcats, led her to study at the University of Kentucky, enrolling in the fall of 1970. Glenn joined Sherry at UK with plans to earn a place in their School of Pharmacy.
With a couple of years of college completed, Sherry experienced one of the great losses of her life when her mother, Elisabeth “Libby” Steedly, lost her battle with cancer. This loss was devastating for Sherry. She pressed on but carried the great loss with her for the rest of her life.
In January of 1973, Sherry and Glenn were wed, marking the beginning of a 52-year marriage in which they would become parents of three boys: Zachary, Bret, and Kevan. Later that year, Sherry graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Medical Technology, an accomplishment that brought her and her family immense pride.
Sherry was hired at Jewish Hospital, where she worked as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist. She performed the incredibly important work of tissue typing and executing medical screening on patient specimens for over 40 years.
She found her most important role in motherhood, providing her sons with unconditional love and support, and creating a home that welcomed all who entered (of which there were many). As her children grew, her capacity to love and encourage only expanded. In 2006 she earned her cherished role of “Mimi,” welcoming Elijah, the first of her six grandchildren.
In addition to her work and family, Sherry was a woman with numerous hobbies. If she was not out back transplanting flowers or pruning one of the numerous trees in her backyard sanctuary, she could be found sitting in the shade with a book or in the backroom of the basement dreaming up her latest craft project while belting the lyrics of a Trisha Yearwood or Reba song. She loved music and she loved to create. A talented seamstress, she often made her children custom Halloween costumes. Her favorite getaway was the family cabin on Nolin Lake, often retreating with her dear sister Lisa and their families. In her later years, she was able to explore more of the country, hiking many National Parks and other remote destinations with her family.
In the fall of 2013, Sherry was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Through unimaginable fear and uncertainty, Sherry held her head up, bravely pushing forward to be the best wife, mother, sister, Mimi, and friend she could be. She gave her all as she battled to maintain her independence, refusing to allow Alzheimer’s disease to define her. On the evening of September 16, 2025, Sherry was set free from her disease and released into everlasting peace.
She was received by those that preceded her in death: her mother, Libby Steedly; her father, Elmer Steedly; and her beloved Jack Russell, Jake. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Glenn; sons Zach (Ally), Bret, and Kevan; grandchildren Elijah, Milo, Jonah, Gus, Olivia, and Cameron; sister Lisa (Jon); as well as numerous cousins, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, neighbors, and friends.
A celebration of life will be held in her honor on September 27 at her home, 7513 Briarwood Drive, Crestwood, Kentucky 40014. An informal service will begin at 5 pm, with visitors welcome from 4–8 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association
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