Maralou Sherrod

Sherrod, Maralou was born October 30, 1920 in Tulsa, OK to Jay W. Jones and Helen East Jones. She died peacefully on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 just shy of her 88th birthday in Louisville, KY. Maralou was a devoted wife, caring mother, life-long gardener, avid traveler and active volunteer. She attended elementary school in Sand Springs, where her mother Helen was a homemaker and her father Jay worked for the Sand Springs Railway, eventually rising to the position of Superintendent. She graduated form Tulsa High School in 1937 and went work as a receptionist at Fred Jones Ford in Tulsa. She married Gerald ("Jerry") Edward Sherrod on September 27, 1946 and they were married for 52 years before his death in 1998.

After their marriage Maralou continued working at Fred Jones Ford to put Jerry through Tulsa University where he earned a degree in petroleum engineering in 1950. For her efforts Maralou earned a degree in PHT, or Putting Hubby Through, from TU. For the next few years after graduation, the couple lived in various oil patch towns in west Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma during which time their son Paul Douglas was born. The couple settled for a short time in Ft. Worth where daughter Leslie Jayne was born and then moved to Arlington, TX. In 1957 the young family relocated to Cranford, New Jersey so Jerry could pursue his career at Citibank in nearby New York City. Once settled in Cranford, Maralou ran the household. While living in New Jersey they traveled extensively, were active in the Methodist Church, enjoyed summers at second home on the Jersey shore and made frequent trips to Tulsa to visit family and friends. Maralou volunteered at the United Methodist Church in Kenilworth, New Jersey, including teaching Sunday school, and at the Youth Employment Service in Cranford, New Jersey.

In 1985 Maralou and Jerry moved back to Tulsa to take care of their elderly parents, soon becoming active members and generous supporters of University United Methodist Church. Maralou was a Daughter of the American Revolution, Tulsa Chapter and a member of the Day Lily Society. With Jerry's passing, Maralou moved to Tulsa's Methodist Manor in 2000 where she spent five happy years before relocating to the Louisville area to be closer to daughter Leslie and her family.

Maralou was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Dick Jones. She is survived by her daughter Leslie Jayne Vessels of Louisville, KY; her son Paul Douglas Sherrod of New York, NY; four grandchildren, Eden Sherrod of New York, NY, Fletcher Sherrod of New York, NY, Emily Vessels of Louisville, KY, Adam Vessels of Louisville, KY; her sister Peggy Easter of Largo, FL; a special cousin, Joanne Thompson of Tulsa, OK and a host of nieces and nephews. A funeral service and celebration of her life will be held at University United Methodist Church on Saturday October 5th at 11:00 A.M. followed immediately by a private internment in Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to The Nature Conservancy, Mashomack Preserve, PO Box 850, Shelter Island, NY 11964.