Henry “Hank” Lewis Sherman

September 9, 1929 – April 22, 2017

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Henry “Hank” Sherman, 87, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 22, 2017 at his home. He was born in Ontario, Oregon. He graduated from Ontario High School and attended Eastern Oregon College where he played football.

Hank was an avid reader, puzzler, humorist, poet, squirrel wrangler, gardener, and counsel to all who knew him. He had a wicked sense of humor shared by his sisters and children. He served in the United States Air Force and was stationed at the Portland Air Force Base where he met his bride of almost 60 years, Maureen “Mo” Sherman.  He spent the majority of his career in finance and later opened his own business, Morgan National Corporation.

He served his community in a number of capacities including; President, Mount Tabor Little League, and President, East Precinct City Council. It was an honor to be the focus of one of his poems. He wrote over one hundred poems for family, friends, and colleagues. He was a catch and release trapper of opossums and raccoons for his wife and neighbors.

Some of his fondest childhood memories were hunting and fishing with family and friends in eastern Oregon, collecting horse hair and making mecates with his father, rides on his pony, Lucky and shenanigans with his sisters and Buelah, the cow. These antics did not end in childhood. This great man of character was also a “character” himself. He exhibited his love of “play” throughout his life and bestowed the love of sports unto his children. He was a dedicated playmate, and would ride his bicycle backwards to the awe of all the neighborhood kids. He built stilts of two heights, and taught his kids how to walk and balance with agility. The back yard boxing matches were held regularly and were an adventure for boys and girls alike. He offset all of this rough and tumble play by creating a fairytale like playhouse for his daughters which they enjoyed with all their friends. Hank’s love of motorcycles didn’t end with his 1948 Harley, this joy extended to other motorcycles that became successions of kids lined up for rides around the block or longer rides with family.

Hank was a loyal, self-less, compassionate, engaged, and protective family man. He lived by a code of personal ethics and expected the same from others. He was the consummate gentleman and treated everyone with kindness, generosity, and care.  He was an exemplary example of God’s goodness. He loved having his family around him for dinners and long conversations, afterward. To the end, he was an exceptional story-teller and kept everyone entertained. He was in a word, special.

Hank was preceded in death by his wife, Maureen, his mother, Hazel, his father, Bud, and two of his cherished sisters, Helen and “Puggy.” He is survived by his children, son Lewis and his wife Tara of Portland, OR; daughter Teresa and son-in-law Barry of Arcata, CA; and daughter Kathleen of Portland, OR; 4 grandchildren: Alyx and Phil, Tim and Kyle and their families; his devoted sisters Bonnie, Ileana, Iris and their families; numerous Portland and eastern Oregon friends; Granning & Treece family; his Stephens Street neighbors whom he considered “family;” and countless others who adored and respected him for the exceptional man he was. Hank lived his life with gratitude and epitomized the expression, a “life well-lived.” He is and forever will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him. According to his wishes, Hank was cremated and a private service will be held in the family’s garden to celebrate his life.