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BORN
1954
DIED
2024
Sherman Hannah Obituary
Sherman was a native son of Independence born to Alfred and Grace Hannah. Sherman attended Owens Valley School then moved on to Barstow Junior College where he was an offensive lineman for the football team. After college with the urging of his parents Sherman ventured out to Duchesne, Utah to work in the oil fields. After his stint in Utah Sherman returned home where he married Janet Collins. He and Janet moved to Washington state along with his friend Stuart McMurray and his wife to work in the timber industry for Crowne Zellerbach in Cathlamet, WA. It was here he and Janet started their family first with son Zachery, and later daughter Cody was born.
Eventually, Sherman moved back to Independence where he began his career with Inyo County Building and Maintenance where he worked until transferring to Parks and Recreation. Sherman always spoke highly of his time working with Roger Bentley, and later under Lance Wagoner. He really loved his time at Parks and Rec taking care of the campgrounds and engaging with the campers. Sherman was very personable so he made a great campground host. In addition to his day job Sherman coached several different sports teams. However, coaching football was his true love. He really enjoyed coaching the young men, and always appreciated when his former players came back to town and stopped to visit.
Sherman had two great passions – sports, and hunting. It was always hard to tell in which order they fell it sort of depended on what time of year it was. Dove hunting was his favorite so he would take the entire two weeks off to hunt with Don Nichols, and his childhood friends Steve Whisler, and Mark Hronish. He called dove season his "Burning Man." Sports were a close second with football being his top priority. Sherman was a diehard Dallas Cowboys and UCLA Bruins fan. Nascar was probably his second favorite. Sherman would put out his Nascar team flags on race weekends. He was unfortunately a Dale Jr. fan after Earnhardt Sr. passed away so he was often disappointed and harassed by his friends. Baseball was certainly his favorite during spring and summer. Sherman was a true blue Dodger fan. The Dodger organization had a connection to Independence via Omie Mairs and Sherman was fortunate to be part of that tradition as a youngster. During his time at Parks and Rec he use to crosscut the ballfield like Dodger Stadium. Also, if you were at Sherman's watching a game everyone was expected to stand and remove their hat for the National Anthem.
Sherman was preceded in death by his parents Alfred and Grace Hannah, wife Helen Long Hannah, and his sister Sandy Miller. He is survived by son Zachery (Amy) Hannah, daughter Cody Ann Earnest, daughter Lauren Ashley Hannah, first wife Janet Collins Hannah, brother Mike Hannah. Grandchildren Jozie, Cole, and Rance Hannah.
A celebration of life will be held June 8, 2024 at the Legion Hall in Independence, CA 12:00 pm. If you wish to donate in Sherman's memory please direct your donations to Owens Valley School.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Sherman Hannah
5 Entries
Ed Fleming (OVHS Class of `75)
May 30, 2024
My parents were good friends with Sherman´s parents, so Sherman was like my older brother.
One Christmas Eve, when I was six years old, my parents went to a holiday party. They asked if the older and wiser nine-year-old Sherman could, "keep an eye on me at our house." Well...what could possibly go wrong with these two left alone?
Upon my parents´ exodus from our house, Sherman asked where we stored our liquor. After much searching, we found a decorative bottle labeled "RED-WINE-VINEGAR." OK, fair enough, that sounded pretty good. The next thing was to look for some snacks.
My mom had baked some homemade, star-shaped, cookies with a loop of string through each star. She had carefully hung each cookie on our Christmas tree as a decoration, not realizing that a bite would be extracted out of each star by night´s end.
In sports, and in life, Sherman was a friend, a coach, a player, a cheerleader, a motivator, and a teammate, often all at the same time.
We are blessed to have known him. My condolences to Sherman´s family and to all of his friends. I´m sorry I am unable to attend your memorial on June 8, but I will there in spirit.
Rest in peace my brother.
Jackie McMurray
May 5, 2024
I have so many fun memories of Sherman. He was a great. Bartender at the Pines Cafe. Best friends with my brother-in-law Steve Whisler and was a hoot to watch football with. Saw him fall off a chair a time or two. He was best also best friends with my husband Stewart McMurray. The the stories they told about their life in Washington State logging would have you laughing until you had tears in your eyes. He was a die hard Dodger and Dallas fan and proud of it. I will miss everything about him. He was one of my true friends.
Dave Lawson
May 1, 2024
I met Sherm when we were both about 12 years old, and we became fast friends, and how could you not... this guy loved everybody !!! Except if you were across the line from him in a football game. It brought a smile to me when it said he loved to work the campgrounds... because my first memory was when we were working the campgrounds, we were either 12 or 13 at the time... It was Opening weekend for trout, and we went up to the 1st campground, about 2:00 in the morning, slid in the creek, and proceeded to raid a few coolers of their beer !!! Now I don't know who had influence over who... but by about 4:00am it didn't matter ! So many good times with Sherm... None Bad !!! Another great memory was all the evenings we'd jump in that old blue Chevy Pick up with AL, and drive the back roads just listening to the Dodger games ! To many memories to recite here... And to Sherm's Family, I just want to say something you already know... THERE WON'T BE ANOTHER ONE LIKE HIM !!! I LOVED THE MAN !!!!!!!!! Dave Lawson
Daniel J Miller Jr
May 1, 2024
Sherman was a great friend. We did a lot together growing up in Independence. Sherman loved football but he also dreamed of playing baseball. Coach Don Osborn put Sherman in charge of our teams 3rd base coaching box. Sherman was the best coach at getting the runners safely to home plate. He won several close games for Owen's Valley by knowing when to stop or wave the base runner to home plate. In high school Sherman, Danny Mairs, Peter Bernasconi and myself would camp in the Inyo Mountains and we would explore all the old mines. We are so lucky a cave in never happened. Our family will miss Sherman. He was a true friend. Our condolences to Sherman's family.
Daniel J Miller Jr.
Max Bawcum-Pietroniro
April 30, 2024
my first memory of sherman is when we moved in next-door as we drove up he could see 1234 dogs jump out of our truck and three of them were labradors. He said they´re gonna be great neighbors. They have to be they have labradors.! my favorite memory is when he was hunting. He was so passionate about it. He loved everything about it and made me smile to see that. I will always remember how down to earth in matter fact he was because he´s a lot like me. I enjoyed that the truth be told no matter how it made you feel. I learned a lot about gardening from sherman sure wish I had his talent, though he was a wizard, grown plants and peppers and tomatoes, and anything he put in the ground grew and it grew big. I was in awe every year when he planted his garden!
Sherman was loyal to everyone. He called a friend, even when he was grouchy you knew he still loved you. I miss my happy neighbor, my sincerest condolences go to his family and friends. It´s a very painful loss..
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