Gail Fisher Sherman

Gail Fisher Sherman age 94, of Manchester Center, VT passed away on Thursday, January 27 surrounded by her three beloved daughters. Born in Honesdale, PA on March 13, 1927, Gail was the only child of Mark and Jeannette Fisher. Coming of age just at the start of the Second World War, Gail joined the United States Cadet Nurse Corp (USCNC) in 1944 following her high school graduation. In the USCNC she attended the School of Nursing at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA. Gail became a nurse anesthetist and it was at the School of Nursing that she first met Byron Grant Sherman, an anesthesiologist intern. They married in 1951 and moved to Morristown, NJ where he had his own anesthesiology practice. Gail did the billing for Byron's practice while raising three daughters, Leslie, Lynne, and Lori. She was also actively involved in the hospital's philanthropic efforts. Camping was one of her greatest loves and the family drove out west every year exploring the United States and parts of Canada. After her oldest daughter, Leslie, moved to Alaska in 1976, Gail and Byron drove and camped cross-country to visit every fall for 23 years. In 1986 she and Byron followed their middle daughter, Lynne, to Vermont and Leslie and Lori moved to Vermont in the ensuing years bringing the family together. Gail never missed the opportunity to comment on how lucky she was to have such a wonderful family. Gail had a way of striking up a conversation with people resulting in friendships all across the United States and, of course, right here in Manchester. She was known as the "brownie lady" because she took great pleasure in bringing a pan of brownies to her "friends" at the Post Office, Northshire Pharmacy, the butchers at Shaws and other "friends" around the Manchester area. Gail was a proud American. When she was in high school, she worked for the ShurKatch Fishing Tackle Corporation making emergency kits for the war effort. She became a member of the DAR and made sure to donate to many military and public service organizations. Her service in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps enabled her to travel to Washington, D.C. on a Leatherstocking Honor Flight in 2018--the only female veteran on the trip! Gail was pre-deceased by her husband, Byron, of 62 years. She is survived by her three daughters, Leslie Sherman (Greg), Lori Jones (Eric), Lynne Welsh (Scott); six grandchildren, Megan Poljacik (Nate), Peter McDonald (Courtney Dampolo), Emily Kohler (Joseph), Kelsey DePriest (Tyler), Mitchell Jones (Diantha), Melissa Jones; and three great-grandchildren, Lily and Connor Jones and Paxson Poljacik. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Wounded Warrior Project, Ronald McDonald House, or a charitable organization of your choice, c/o Brewster-Shea Funeral Home P.O. Box 885 Manchester Center, VT 05255