Johnny Edward (Sherley) Sherley

Johnny Edward Sherley was born at home, outside of Rochester, Texas, to Presley and Georgia Beal (Epley) Sherley, on October 22, 1934. It wasn't long before he had a little sister, Frankie Jo, join him. Johnny spent his childhood riding horses and running wild all around that area. He traveled with his dad and spent a lot of time at matched horse races where he was sometimes the jockey!
Johnny went to work at a very young age as a ranch hand. It was while he worked on the Watt Matthews Ranch in Albany, Texas, that he met his future bride. He met, and later married, Pamela Jean Godwin on October 3, 1953. They soon had a son, Bucky, and two daughters, Kathy and Carolyn. Johnny and Jean were married almost 63 years. The family began in Albany, but soon moved to Lawn, Texas, where Johnny worked for LeClair Oil Company as a pumper. No matter where they lived, he always had horses that he was breaking and training to sell for an extra income.
Through the years, Johnny trained many performance and race horses. He was known for not letting you leave his place before he'd loaded one or more of his horses into your trailer and exchanged some money at a good profit! Johnny was a long-standing member of the American Quarter Horse Association, Thoroughbred Association, and Paint Horse Association. He trained his last horse at the age of 81 years.
Johnny died in his home, west of Lawn, on November 27, 2021, after an extended illness. He leaves behind a son, Bucky (Kim) of Lawn, daughter Kathy LeFevre (Kent) of Tuscola, and daughter Carolyn Golson (Glenn) of Lawn. He is also survived by sister, Frankie Beauchamp (Larry) of Lawn. Known as Pa Johnny, he leaves behind five grandchildren: Tanner Sherley of Merkel, Chancey Golson (Barbara) of Lawn, Dani Wahlert (Wes) of Kersey, Colorado, Kit LeFevre (Megan) of Tuscola, and Colter Sherley (Whitney) of San Angelo. He loved having his nine great grandchildren visit. Johnny had four nephews, many cousins, and friends all over the country.
Johnny was preceded in death by his parents, Presley and Georgia Beal, and later his wife, Jean, in 2016.
Services for Johnny Sherley will be held at Lawn Baptist Church on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. Visitation will be at 1:00 pm, followed by the service at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow at the Sherley Cemetery, west of Lawn. Please feel free to dress in denim and/or red (Dad's favorite color)!
The family extends a heartfelt thanks to Brittney Taylor, Debbie Hanna, and Brandy & Lynlee White for their loving care. Also greatly appreciated are the nurses of Hospice of the Big Country for their extraordinary care and support.
In lieu of flowers, please support the On the Way Home Mission, P.O. Box 266, Lawn, Texas, or the West Texas Rehabilitation Center of Abilene.