Sherry Bea Burnett

Sherry Bea Burnett, 61, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, at Mercy Hospital, Joplin, Mo., following a lengthy illness. She was born March 30, 1952, in Lexington, Mo., to Howard R. Burnett Sr. and Mildred Ann Richer Burnett.

As a child, Sherry moved with her family to Kansas City and graduated from Ruskin Heights High School in 1971. She worked at Truman Hospital in Kansas City for 27 years. Sherry came to Nevada in 1997 and began working for West Central for eight years, until her retirement on Aug. 8, 2006. She was a committee member of the Vernon County Relay for Life and continued to volunteer for West Central for six years, following retirement.

Survivors include one brother, William Burnett, Independence, Mo., and two stepsisters, Diane Burnett and Claudia Burnett, both of Kansas City, Kan. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Larry Burnett and J.R. Burnett; one sister, Sue Ann Burnett; and six nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with the Rev. Bill Smith officiating. A private interment will follow in Moore Cemetery, Nevada. The family will receive friends from noon until 1 p.m., Tuesday, prior to the service at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made in her memory to the Vernon County Relay for Life in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.