Jean Sherrick

Jean Estelle Talley (Samson) Sherrick left for home on November 5, 2022, at the age of 90, surrounded by her grandchildren. She was born to Ralph Vernon and Alpha Lucille (Case) Talley on November 18, 1931 in Newton, Kansas. She attended Labadie Heights School and College High School in Bartlesville, graduating in 1950.

Jean married Charles "Chuck" Henry Samson on September 2, 1950, in Bartlesville, OK. In 1953, their son, Charles David "Dave" Samson was born. After Chuck's death, Jean married Everett Standeford in 1993. Following his death, Jean and Charles "Chuck" Sherrick were married in 1998. Jean lived in rural Nowata, Oklahoma for most of her long, active life. She was a thrifty homemaker, a capable ranch hand, and the caretaker of an oil lease. While she met the demands of home and farm life, Jean pursued a writing career, once interviewing Johnny and June Carter Cash. Several of her articles were published in farm and women's magazines. Her hobbies included photography, historical research, genealogy, and square dancing with her first husband, Chuck, which took them to competitions all over the state and beyond. Jean had a special friendship with rodeo trick rider Pauline Nesbitt, and spent many years caring for her and documenting Pauline's life and stories to preserve them for the future. Through years of research and interviews, she became a walking encyclopedia of rodeo history.

Jean was a fun-loving grandmother, filling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with biscuits and gravy, root beer floats, and love. She loved rural life and observing the natural world, often preserving specimens of dead birds and bugs in her freezer to show her great-grandchildren when they came to visit. Jean promised to visit her grandchildren as a butterfly. They, however, couldn't promise not to put her in their freezers to show to their own grandchildren.

Jean is survived by her brother, Ross Talley, of Bartlesville, her sister, Ellen Cannon, of California, granddaughter Holly Samson Hall and her husband, Jeremy, of Guthrie, OK, granddaughter Rachael Samson Marrs and her husband, Casey, of South Coffeyville, OK, grandson Caleb Samson and his wife, Melanie, of Bartlesville, granddaughter Marlena Toso and her husband, Josh, of O'Fallon, MO, granddaughter Melinda Puente and her partner, Paul Guerra, of Mesa, AZ, and great-grandchildren Alexandria Dennison, Ruby Hall, Chloe Toso, Marcus Guerra, Ivy Hall, Payton Marrs, Truman Hall, Cameron Samson, and Chelsea Samson. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, and her son.

A viewing will be held at Benjamin Funeral Service in Nowata on Wednesday, November 9 from 5 to 8 pm.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, November 10 at 10 am at Nowata First Church of God. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean's honor can be made to the Nowata County Historical Society and Museum.