Sherry E. Graves

Sherry Esther (Girmann) Graves, 90, of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2026. She was born on December 16, 1935, in Ogallala, Nebraska, to Edward and Helyn Girmann.

Sherry graduated from Chadron High School in 1953 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with majors in Business and History from Colorado State University in 1957. She dedicated her early career to teaching business education at several high schools, including those in Scottsbluff, Englewood, and at Fort Collins High School, as well as at Nouasseur Air Force Base in Morocco.

She married Dr. Robert C. Graves (Graves Dairy) on December 11, 1963. Bob was one of the founders of Rocky Mountain Bank, where Sherry served as the bank's first secretary. They lived on the ranch, where Sherry also worked in the dairy office, managed the monthly billing, and gave dairy tours.

Together, Bob and Sherry welcomed four children: Robert Lawrence, Laura Ann, Sarah Elizabeth, and Christine Anne. On August 15, 1976, their daughter Laura, at the age of seven, was diagnosed with leukemia. In 1979, Laura became the first person in the world with leukemia to receive a bone marrow transplant from a non-related donor, giving her an additional year and a half of life. Laura died on August 15, 1981, five years to the date of diagnosis and passed away at the age of twelve. Inspired by this experience, Bob and Sherry became co-founders of the National Marrow Donor Program (now NMDP). Today, the program has impacted 147,594 lives, with over 42 million people worldwide registered as potential lifesaving donors. In 1990, when Dr. Donnell Thomas received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work in bone marrow transplantation, Bob and Sherry were honored guests at the Nobel Ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden, an occasion that deeply touched them both.

After raising her children, Sherry worked for Larimer County as Clerk to the Board for 14 years. Following her retirement, she remained deeply engaged in her community. She volunteered at Poudre Valley Hospital, served on the Colorado State University Alumni Board, serving as President in 2012, and participated in Larimer Square Questers, Bible Study Fellowship, and many bridge groups. She also loved to travel the world, visiting Russia, Europe, China, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Iceland and returning each year to Cabo San Lucas with her best friends, children, grandchildren and her sister, Marybeth.

Sherry was a very special lady, known for her gentleness, warmth, and quiet resilience. She loved growing up in the 1950s and all that the "Golden Era" represented, from dancing and playing the piano and even the trombone in her high school marching band. She was always proud of her Nebraska roots and deeply loved her parents and siblings. Devoted to her children, she was known as the "taxi mom," never missing a sporting event or school activity, and always making sure Rob had breakfast and lunch in the hayfield. Sherry lived a life grounded in Catholic virtues, never claiming perfection, but consistently choosing grace, gratitude, and kindness. She cherished her friendships deeply and created meaningful relationships with so many throughout her life. Even during her silence these past two years, her beautiful blue eyes, warm smile, and loving presence continued to draw people close. She touched countless hearts and will be profoundly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Sherry is survived by her son Rob (Lori) Graves; daughters Sarah (Scott) Nicol and Christine (Scott) Houldsworth; eight grandchildren-Bryan, Allyx, Trevor, Skylar, Amber, Lauren, Jack, and Sierra; six great grandchildren, with one on the way; her sister Marybeth Wood; and extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert; her brother Larry; her daughter Laura; her granddaughter Kelsey; and other beloved family members.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations may be made to The Sherry Graves Hope Fund at NMDP, which honors Sherry's belief that one cannot live without hope by supporting patients and families in need of a life-saving transplant, or to St. Joseph Catholic Church.

NMDP Foundation

The Sherry Graves Hope Fund

NW 5498

PO Box 1450

Minneapolis, MN 55485

Online: https://go.nmdp.org/HonoringSherry.

St Joseph Catholic Church (Prefer Checks)

In Memory of Sherry Graves

101 N. Howes

Fort Collins, CO 80521

Online: https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Giving/FD-398