Sharon Che-rie Sue Jamshidi

On June 3, 1951, Sharon Sue Hurley came screaming into the world. Rumor has it the world screamed back. She spent her formative years...being formed. The important part here is that she left “Sharon” and became the iconic “Cher-rie.” On a fateful day in 1975, Cher-rie met Nader Jamshidi. The two eventually married after what the reader should assume to have been a proper and chaste period of courtship. For reasons undoubtedly completely unrelated to her temperament, Cher-rie frequently found herself in conflict with authority, particularly in the arena of employment. As such, with Nader’s support and steadying presence, Cher-rie began the process of working for herself. She opened businesses and failed. She kept going, and eventually, Cher-rie succeeded in the field of medical transcription. Oh yeah, in between all of the hustling, Cher-rie became mother to an unruly brood of five blood children, several of her children’s friends, and many, many stray animals. Dear reader, a quiet life it was not.

Irreverent and funny with a memorable, infectious laugh, Cher-rie was a natural entertainer wholly incapable of telling a story linearly; fortunately, she always rewarded patient listeners. Frequently described by her children as “embarrassing,” “over the top,” and “God, Mom, can you stop?!” Cher-rie was authentic. To paraphrase the words of her idol, Dolly Parton, she knew who she was and did it on purpose. In public without makeup? Heresy. Leaving the house without at least six pieces of jewelry adorning her body? Blasphemy! The origins of the conflict remain lost to time, but Cher-rie's blood feud with understated fashion was the stuff of legends. She had a mouth that could make a sailor blush, yet she remained absolutely unburdened with any sense of shame in calling others (particularly her poor children) “uncouth” and “unbecoming” for the same behavior.

Cher-rie’s temper ran hot, cool, and all over whatever was in her way. The wise person (read: child) stayed out of sight and earshot until she had her morning coffee. She could shoot a coyote without batting an eye. Calm in a crisis, she tended the messiest injuries of her children and animals, and she worked around the clock to provide for her family. She did the hard things life required with grace. Except cooking. Oh, Cher-rie did cook, but let us not disrespect her memory by accusing her of doing it with grace.

Unknown to many outside her immediate family, Cher-rie had a lifelong love of horror and freely shared it with her children. (Curiously, she had decidedly less love for the complaints of said children who subsequently became afraid of, well, everything.) She was joyous when singing. Fortunately for the innocent ears in her vicinity, she had damn near perfect pitch. Cher-rie loved hard, supporting her friends and protecting her family. She rarely met a person she did not like. Well, kind reader, she rarely met a person with whom she would not speak, at least. Although she was forthright with her opinions, love was her default. Cher-rie did not ostracize or reject.

Cher-rie was generous and forgiving. She was a force of nature, and she contained multitudes: hard edges, comforting hugs, and everything in-between. She was better than fearless; she was brave. God knows she will be so terribly missed. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ruby and J.R. Hurley. She continues in the hearts of her many family members and friends, including her husband, Nader, and her children: Jamey, Shane, Sheena, Shaheen, and Tyler.