Sherry Nixon

1957 - 2025

Sherry Ellis Nixon unexpectedly passed away at her home near Missoula of a stroke on October 8, 2025.

After graduating from Great Falls Highschool in the late 70's, she attended the University of Montana. While home in Great Falls on a school break she met Rob Nixon, who she eventually agreed to go on a date with after he showed up with a black lab puppy. Soon after they married, their son Brian was born and the young family with their dog, all moved to Missoula. Once in Missoula, they found a 3.5 acre plot of land surrounded by cow pasture and a small creek passing through. The embodiment of Montana frontier spirit, she and Rob dug their own water well and built their barndominium to live in while saving money to build a house. Daughter Laura was born not long after and the barn started to get crowded, so they began building what would be known as the "red house".

She finished university, juggling home responsibilities and eventually earned her masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Montana. Working at the Curry Health Center for close to 20 years, she helped hundreds of students navigate their challenges. In addition to counseling students, she did contracting work for the military traveling to US bases in Guam, Europe, and South Korea to help troops and their families. After Hurricane Katrina, she volunteered with the Red Cross in the New Orleans area for several weeks.

She was a very loving and encouraging mom, supporting and making sure both Brian and Laura obtained degrees. She shared her love for horses, travel, gardening, and animals with Laura. They had an amazing trip on horseback deep into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. They spent countless hours at the horse stable and horse shows as well as traveling and adventuring all over the world together. But their most cherished time was spent at home relaxing and reading books together on the back deck, drinking ice tea and listening to the creek and birds in the summer. Sherry loved being outside, the beach, skiing, and floating rivers all of which became major hobbies for Brian. One of many highlights for her was a multi day trip floating the Smith River with Brian where they had the opportunity to hike into her family's abandoned homestead in Ellis Canyon.

She was enjoying retirement, keeping busy around the house, friend groups, bookclub, traveling in her RV, and volunteering with the animal shelter, Wild Montana, and the Facial Pain Association. But most of all, she loved being a Grandma to her three young grandchildren who knew her as Nana. The time they spent with Nana at the red house was magical...glitter club, playing in the creek or garden, making music, cooking, sledding, eating Raspberries from the bush, fetching with Ruru dog, and so much more. To escape the harshest Montana winter months and get more time with her grandchildren, she had been snowbirding in her RV near them in San Diego. They have countless fond memories of Nana, but as the oldest said, "I wanted more." They will miss her so very much.

Grief is always hard, but has been extra difficult for her family to comprehend this sudden and unexpected passing. Walking into the red house, we still expect to see her sitting in her chair, enjoying her morning coffee, and watching the sun rise on Lolo Peak.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Rob Nixon of Missoula; son, Brian Nixon, DIL Katie Nixon; grandchildren, Hannah, Sky, and Teddy of San Diego; daughter, Laura Nixon of Missoula; and her corgi, Ruby. The family suggests memorials to The Facial Pain Association www.facepain.org or 5 Valley Land Trust https://www.fvlt.org/.

Celebration of life will be held at her home Sunday October 26th and tombstone will be placed at the Augusta, MT cemetery spring 2026. Please contact benfnd@gmail.com if you would like to attend.