Sheri Gebhart

Memorial services will be 3:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 2 at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Andy Blair, pastor, officiating. Sheri Lynn (Stribling) Gebhart of Canyon, Texas, died May 29, 2015. Born March 16, 1954, to Baldwin J. and Ninna-Kate (Watrous) Stribling, she was the second of four children. Growing up in Canyon, she graduated from Canyon High School and attended West Texas State University. In 1975 she received a degree in elementary education, but deciding that teaching was not her calling, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Over her 14 years of service, she was stationed in posts across the country and abroad. She was with the Armed Forces Police in Washington, D.C., worked at naval reserve centers in Oklahoma, Arizona and Florida, and spent four years with Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 129 at the Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Washington. In addition, she served aboard the U.S.S. Joshua Humphreys out of Norfolk, Virginia. During her two years in Naples, Italy, Naval Communications Area Master Station, Mediterranean, she completed her Master's degree in counseling. When she honorably retired in 1991, Sheri had achieved the rank of Chief Yeoman. Moving to Florida, where she met Kevin Wilcox, she went to work for the Department of Social Services as an administrative assistant. In 2004, she and Kevin returned to Texas, settling in Canyon. She was employed by the Military Entrance Processing Service in Amarillo as a test administrator for the last 10 years. Sheri received many awards during her service: naval achievement medals, meritorious unit citations, good conduct medals and a marksman ribbon and was named sailor of the quarter. As a civilian with MEPS, she was recognized with the Army medal achievement award. She belonged to First Presbyterian Church, Canyon; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 200 and Fleet Reserve Association Branch 263. She was FRA southeast regional president 1999-2000. Sheri was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Kevin Wilcox. Survivors include sisters Lee E. Stribling of Canyon and Pam (Mel) Vorwald of Pueblo, Colorado; brother the Rev. Don (Denise) Stribling of Jerseyville, Illinois; stepmother Pam Stribling of Canyon; and grandson Kevin J. Wilcox III of Harvest, Alabama. Memorials may be made to the patients of BSA Hospice, in care of Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Foundation, 1600 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, Texas 79106 or Baldwin Stribling Scholarship, McCormick Theological Seminary, 5460 S University Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60615. Her ashes will be scattered at sea.