Iris Ann Shermer
1946 - 2023
Iris Ann Shermer passed away March 6, 2023 at Cadence Assisted Living Memory Care in Clemmons, North Carolina. She lived a life devoted to God, her husband, Walter Talmadge Shermer, family, and friends. Her caring, loving spirit and wisdom lifted the lives of those around her. Her years at Cadence were a blessing giving her a safe, loving and caring environment to make a departure from her earthly life.
Born Iris Ann Ward April 6, 1946 in Fort Worth Texas, her family moved often. Iris childhood was lived in Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Haynesville, Louisiana; Longview, Texas; San Benito, Texas; Lovington, New Mexico, and Midland, Texas.
After graduating from Midland High School in 1964, Iris attended Odessa Junior College in Odessa, Texas and Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas receiving a degree in home economics in 1967. She taught seventh grade and home economics in Pharr, Texas and then moved to Orange, Texas where she taught seventh grade life sciences and special education. Iris received a Masters Degree in Education from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas in 1992 and continued her teaching in Community Christion School in Orange, Texas until 2001. From 2001 until her retirement in 2005 Iris worked in the Vidor, Texas and Little Cyprus school districts as an educational diagnostician and English teacher.
Iris gave of her life in many church service areas including praise and worship music leader for Community Christian Church in Orange, Texas for several years and then Bridge City, Texas Baptist Church. Iris and her husband taught bible studies for children while members of Vineyard Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
She lived her retirement years starting in 2005 in Sulphur, Louisiana, and then in White House, Texas and Brownsboro, Texas before moving to Winston Salem in 2018, where Iris and Talmadge became members of Calvary Baptist Church.
Iris had many talents and enjoyed music playing piano, keyboard, flute, and singing in trios and other vocal groups. She also enjoyed wood working and furniture crafting, stained glass creations, crocheting blankets and garments, and gardening. She also enjoyed travels including cruises to Hawaii, Alaska, South America, and the Caribbean, and trips to Canada, the Holy Land, Venezuela, Costa Rica, and throughout the United States.
In addition to her husband, Iris is survived by her sons Alan Lewis and his wife Miranda and grandchildren Dalton and Kadyn, Brian Lewis and his wife Rebecca and grandchildren Ella and Bryson, and step sons, Colonel John Shermer United States Army, and his wife Maggie and daughter Rebecca, Stanley Shermer and his wife Beverly, and Captain Benjamin Shermer, United States Air Force reserve.
Deep appreciation and gratitude are extended to those of Trellis Hospice Care, Calvary Baptist Church, and Cadence Assisted Living Memory Care of Clemmons as well as neighbors and friends who gave care, love, and support for both Iris and Talmadge in her final years.
In respecting Iris’s requests, no memorial service is to be held at this time. Iris would wish that in her passing the words of Paul would be remembered that “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” In place of customary memorials contributions can be made to the missions fund of Calvary Baptist Church (Calvarynow.com), Winston Salem.