Burney Sherman

Mrs. Burney Marie “Pat” Pruner ShermanMrs. Burney “Pat” Sherman, of Monroe, was born on October 19, 1926. A member of the American Indian Turtle Band Tribe of the Delaware Nation, she had, for the last several years, expressed her readiness to “go be with my people.” On March 3, 2015, the Lord granted her wish. She was 88 years old.We want to share with you a little of who our mother was and how much we shall miss her.Mom was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, to Walter L. Pruner and Bertie Marie Seaberry Pruner. Like many Americans, she was descended from several ethnic groups, but she most identified with her American Indian heritage. Her paternal bloodline was 1/8 Delaware and 1/16 Choctaw. Growing up in central Oklahoma with a grandfather who was raised on a reservation, she dearly cherished her Native American background. Mom was the great-great-great paternal granddaughter of Black Beaver, a renowned scout, interpreter, and rancher who, as a teenager, worked as a trapper for John Jacob Astor. Black Beaver eventually became chief of the Delaware Tribe. Mom’s paternal grandmother was descended from the Choctaw Tribe. When Mom’s father was born, his Delaware father was away on a cattle drive, so his Choctaw mother enrolled him on the Choctaw Tribal Roll. This allowed him to receive title to his own farm at the age of one, but it left him in an odd position in his family: all eleven of his siblings and their descendants were enrolled in the Delaware Tribe. Even after his death, on each of Mom’s frequent visits to Oklahoma she would appeal to the Delaware Tribal Office in hopes of having her father moved from the Choctaw Roll to the Delaware Roll. We wonder if she is still trying to accomplish this mission.On her Oklahoma trips, visiting her large extended family, she amassed an impressive collection of Indian jewelry, long before the current popularity of turquoise. She wore her jewelry proudly and delighted in explaining the symbolism of each piece to anyone who asked. She also enjoyed supporting Indian artists and acquired pieces by several of her favorites.Mom graduated from Central High School in Oklahoma City and attended Oklahoma University. She and her best friend moved to Dallas in 1946, to work for the summer before returning to college. However, a blind date (arranged by her future sister-in-law) resulted in her meeting William “Bill” Earl Sherman. They were married on Thanksgiving Day in 1946.After marrying, Mom lived in Dallas, Beaumont, Monroe, Houston, and Little Rock, before returning to Monroe in 1963. She enjoyed close relationships with many of her Lakeshore neighbors and delighted in the Couple’s Birthday Supper Club. She and Dad were able to fulfill their dream of extensive travel in the U.S. and Canada. They enjoyed camping and were members of the Good Sam’s Camping Club, and took their delighted grandchildren camping with them on many occasions. She was a faithful member of College Place Baptist Church and took great pleasure from the camaraderie of her church friends.Mom often said her main goal in life was to be a mother. Instead of pursuing a career, she chose to be a full-time mom and felt the time she devoted to her family was priceless. She served as a room mother, PTA member, Girl Scout leader, and—because she drove a station wagon—was always on the list to drive for any school event. She took great pride in keeping a spotless home, which meant no sleeping in on Saturday! Even though she was too impatient to read the pattern instructions for sewing, she was a master dressmaker and loved crocheting afghans. In her later years, she thought bargain shopping was her duty, the National Enquirer was actually true, and chocolate should be a daily nutritional requirement.“Pat,” “Burney,” “Mom,” or “Memaw,” as she was known to those who loved her, was a devoted wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and cousin. She was pre-deceased by her parents; her beloved husband of 51 years, William Earl “Bill” Sherman; her sister, Norma Lee Mulhearn; special aunt, Norma Pruner Knowles; and special cousin, Linda Knowles Sevier.Immediate family survivors are two daughters: Cathy Crick and her husband, John, and Judi Nicholson, all of Monroe; a granddaughter: Jennifer Crick Smith and her husband, Tim, of New York, NY; two grandsons: John Sherman Crick and his wife, Amy, and Connor Nicholson and his fiance, Nikki LeCompte, all of Monroe; and three great-granddaughters: Adyson and Remy Crick, of Monroe, and Lucy Smith of New York, NY.Our family is indebted to the assistance provided by Senior Care Services in caring for Mom during the last thirteen months. To Emily, Linda, Frances, Nancy, Annabell, Felicia, Yvonne, Janet, Dwana, and Juanita, we thank you. Your patience, compassion, humor, perseverance, and love sustained us as we helplessly lost our mother to the abyss that is Alzheimer’s disease. In 1996, Mom’s mother, Bertie Pruner Rochelle, succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease. Mom and Dad were her primary caregivers, until they could no longer care for her at home. Mom’s mother spent six years in a nursing home. Mom and her sister, along with other family members, visited the nursing home almost every other day. Mom and Dad became active in the Alzheimer’s Association, attending monthly meetings and serving as officers. To demonstrate visibly the decline Alzheimer’s disease causes, Mom and Dad gave an interview with KNOE-TV and displayed our grandmother’s crochet work. The handiworks went from perfect and beautiful to a matted bunch of yarn, which is much like the effect the disease has on the brain.Mom knew she was at great risk for developing Alzheimer’s. So, in 1998 when she was settling her husband’s estate, she gave durable power of attorney to her daughters. She also purchased Long Term Care Insurance. As her health started to decline, she voluntarily gave up driving; not, however, until her third auto accident! She sold her car and in 2005, a year later, sold her home and moved in with her younger daughter. Her decline was gradual and the severity of it sometimes went unnoticed by those of us closest to her. Alzheimer’s disease is a killer, and there was no cure for her.Our mother is “with her people now.” If you knew our mother and wish to “give something” in her memory, please contribute to Alzheimer’s research. To donate by phone, the number is 1.800.272.3900. If you have questions or concerns, this is also their 24/7 Helpline. To donate by mail, the address is Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011. If you knew our mother and wish to “do something” in her memory, please talk to your neighbor who hasn’t been outside for a while because they are caring for their parent or spouse. If you can, offer to sit with their loved one so they can enjoy a brief respite. If their loved one is in a nursing home, offer to accompany them on their next visit. If you did not know our mother, please think about your parents, yourself and your children. Please do your research. If you are able, please “give something” or “do something” to confront this slow, incurable, and deadly disease.Contrary to the information printed in Saturday’s News Star, there will be no visitation and no formal service. The family will hold a private remembrance service on Monday, March 9, 2015. Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com Mulhearn Funeral HomeMonroe, LA