Sheryl Strack

Sheryl Marie (Watness) Strack, 80, of Lawrence, passed away peacefully at home on March 13, 2026 after a long battle with cancer.

Born on March 29, 1945 to Norbert and Mildred (Smith) Watness, Sheryl grew up in Indianapolis and attended Saint Mark’s Grade School, Saint Lawrence Grade School, and Scecina High School. She went on to earn her nursing degree from the University of Indianapolis. A longtime member of the Indianapolis Quilting Guild and the Common Threads Quilting Guild, she later retired from Magnetic Instrumentation and devoted her time to the things she loved most: fishing, gardening, camping, and animal rescue. After years of thoughtful study and reflection, she converted from Catholicism to Judaism and lived the remainder of her life with deep compassion and kindness.

Preceded in death by her parents and her sister Edith Marie Jenkins, Sheryl is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Craig and Christina Powers; granddaughters Kelsey Conder and Abbey Mailloux (Neuenschwander); great-grandson Malachi Conder; her sisters Mary Therese Olmstead (Davy) and Amy Karas (Tim); her brothers Wesley Watness (Kathy) and David Watness; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family is grateful for the attentive care provided by her hospice team at Select Hospice and by Dr. Miller and Dr. Mason.