Sherrill Kay (Zartman) Forsythe, age 73, a native of Texas and longtime resident of Hays, Kansas, died Sunday, March 14, 2010, at St. John's Health Care Center, Victoria, Kansas, succumbing to Parkinson's Disease after a struggle of more than twenty years.

She was born December 29, 1936, in Smithfield, Texas, the daughter of Charles Wesley and Hellen Naomi (Allen) Zartman. Her ancestry in the United States on the Zartman side goes back to 1728 when the family immigrated from Germany.

Sherrill attended public school in Smithfield, Texas for eight years, and graduated from Amon G. Carter Riverside High School, Fort Worth, Texas. She attended Brantley-Draughon Business College after high school and studied secretarial science. She married James L. Forsythe on August 10, 1956, in Smithfield, Texas.

Her work experiences include working for oil companies as a secretary, for Texas Instruments in production at Plano, Texas, and for Baxter Labs in Hays, Kansas, in productions when they had the program for parents of school age children. Many years were spent loving, caring for, and raising her three sons -- the kind of work that she enjoyed the most.

Sherrill loved traveling and had visited 47 of the lower 48 states, Mexico, and most of the Canadian provinces before the debilitations of Parkinson's required admission into a nursing home. St. John's Health Care Center at Victoria became her home for the last two years and seven months.

Spring and summer were special to Sherrill; she spent most of the daylight hours outdoors. She carefully tended her flowers and loved the large blossoms that resulted from her efforts. She also loved raising vegetables. Her last crop of okra plants measured nine feet tall after they were pulled; and her tomatoes were larger than her open hand.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, James L. Forsythe, of the home; three sons, James L. Forsythe Jr. and wife Rita Rae, Russell, KS; Garen David Forsythe and wife Patricia Ann, Emporia, KS; and Dana Sean Forsythe, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; two brothers, Wendall Charles Zartman, Bedford, TX; Olin Allen Zartman, Goldthwaite, TX; four sisters, Wilma Jane Wiseman and Glenna Maxine Foster, both of Bedford, TX; Cara Lee Locke, Hurst TX; Billie Charlene Moulder, Lafayette, LA; four grandchildren, Ryan Tyler Forsythe, Hays, KS; Charissa Joann Forsythe, Ariel Annette Forsythe, Kieran Richard Forsythe, all of Emporia, KS; two step grandchildren, Cristy Lea Atkerson and Craig Oren Atkerson, both of Hays, KS; and one step great grandchild, Rylee Daven Atkerson, Hays, KS; two brother-in-laws, Joe Allison Forsythe, Euless, TX; William Calvin Forsythe, Paradise, TX; five sister-in-laws, Betty Ann Bramlett, North Richlands Hill, TX; Mary Louise Evans, Alvarado, TX; Martha Lillian Bufe, Colleyville, TX; Jane Eliza Dethloff and Nancy Ellen Carrol, both of Kennedale, TX.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and two sisters, Hellen Claire Stout and Betty Lillian Specht.

Services are 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, March 17, 2010, at Cline's Mortuary of Hays 1919 E. 22nd Hays, Kansas 67601 with Pastor Benny Lowery of the High Plains Baptist Church officiating. Brief graveside services and interment will follow at the Mount Allen Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.

Visitation will be from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday and from 9:00 to 10:30 A.M. Wednesday all at Cline's Mortuary of Hays.

Memorials are suggested to the American Parkinson Association, the Humane Society of the High Plains, and the History Department Scholarships at Fort Hays State University. Condolences may be sent via e-mail to clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net.