Obituary of Sherry Lee Ritchie

GRANVILLE -- Our beautiful mother, Sherry L. Ritchie, 83, of Middle Granville, peacefully flew on angel wings to Heaven into the loving arms of Jesus, reunited with our father, her parents and other loved ones, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Sherry was born in Granville, the daughter of Ralph and Margaret (Peggy) Hicks, and grew up on the family farm, Hicks Orchard. She became quite adept at making the packing boxes for the apples, and worked a station on the automated sorting machines, packing the apples for shipment. She was the beautiful girl next door, and captured the heart of Arthur Ritchie. They married at the Truthville Baptist Church on June 10, 1961, and made their home in Middle Granville. Sherry worked as a secretary and stenographer until she was blessed to become a stay-at-home mom who lovingly devoted her time to raising their three children. During that period, she was also a bookkeeper for her husband's small trucking business; then, as her children became a little older, she provided part-time secretarial support to their church's school. After her children grew up, she provided secretarial support to a local attorney's office. She also supported her husband in his role as pastor of the Raceville Methodist Church. Sherry was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend, who dearly loved spending time with family and friends. Our cherished memories of her include special family events, including Family Thanksgiving at her brother's home; how she loved to whistle while doing housework; riding around in the big family station wagon to all the stores to get the best deals based on the current batch of coupons; her love of capturing special moments on video and film; playing board games and cards with us and taking us to swim at Cody's pool countless times; hosting the infamous New Year's Eve parties for church family and friends; her equally infamous banana cake; our weekly visits and daily phone visits; her laugh as well as caring personality, and her kind heart and the many life lessons she gave on how to treat others. Sherry loved the Lord, and, together with her husband, brought their children up in a loving Christian home. She enjoyed accompanying her husband, Art, and daughter, Diana, around the region as they sang their gospel music, always with her camcorder in tow. Sherry also gifted wedding video recordings to all of the couples her husband joined together in marriage in his role as pastor. She loved caring for her grandchildren as they grew up. She enjoyed decorating, especially for Christmas, and catalog shopping and collecting angels, butterflies, birds, crystal figurines and all of the pretty things. She enjoyed visiting her parents in their Florida retirement home, and loved collecting anything related to the ocean and sea shells. She enjoyed word search puzzles, ceramics and Artex painting and coloring, watching TV, especially Hallmark, and also enjoyed books, often reading one per day in recent times. In her younger years, she also enjoyed traveling with her husband on his mint green Harley. Her greatest happiness was found in spending time with her family. We have been so very blessed to have her as our mother. She was the most loving, sweetest and best mom, always so cheerful, good-natured, patient and kind, with such a gentle spirit, and to know her was to love her. She made friends so easily because of her outgoing, kind and loving nature. In everything she did, she always supported us, always encouraging us with her kind words, her gentleness, her sweet smile, her loving ways. She was so positive and didn't complain, even when life presented her with various health challenges. She found joy in the little things. She was full of goodness and grace, a special sweetheart. She loved everyone and we thank you for loving her and bringing joy to her life. She has been the center of our hearts and home, the light of our lives. Every day, no matter what, our precious mom was always there for us, always positive and kind. A mother's love is eternal, she is forever a part of us, as we are of her, and we carry her within our hearts always and forever ~ amen. Survivors include two daughters, Jeannie Patch and her husband, John; and Diana Ritchie Williams and her husband, Rich; one son, Daniel Ritchie, and his wife, Herberta; five grandchildren: Alecia (Brian) Dunleavy, Andrew (Amber) Patch, Alex Patch (Hayley Porter), Samantha Williams, and Sebastian Ritchie; four great-grandchildren, Jazzmyne Dunleavy, Ava Dunleavy, Matthew Mercier and Alistair Patch; one unborn grandson Patch; one brother, Gary Hicks and his wife, Becky, and their sons Bryce (Emily) and Brent (Melissa) and their families; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Sherry was predeceased by her husband, Art, her sisters- and brothers-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews, and her husband's parents, John and Florence Ritchie. Special thanks to her numerous caregivers, including friends Deb Morehouse and Nicole Martelle. Friends may call from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, at the Robert M. King Funeral Home, 23 Church St., Granville, with a funeral service directly following at 4 p.m., with Pastor Kevin Gebo officiating. Burial will be later in the spring at Elmwood Cemetery in Middle Granville. Please share a smile and give of yourself today to someone in need, in honor of Sherry. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Haynes House of Hope, 7187 NYS Route 149, Granville, NY, 12832.