Barbara Jane (Deck) Shernick

Barbara Jane Shernick

1927 -  2020

Barbara Jane Shernick passed on to her eternal peace in April of  2020 after a courageous battle with

pancreatic cancer.

She was born in Arnold, Pennsylvania to Raymond Deck, and Helen (nee) Merryman in

1927. Her childhood years were spent at a modest home on the "Coxcomb", a hill overlooking

Pittsburgh, where her father worked for the Aluminum Company of America. Some of her fondest

memories were from swinging in a tire suspended from a huge tree at the side of the home, in

Logansferry, Pennsylvania. She kept a photo of such a swing near her sink down through the years of

such a swing, along with an illustration of a small girl holding a large stuffed Teddy Bear that she loved

nearly as much as that swing.

B.J. has had some black lines and dots embedded under the skin all of her adult life that were acquired

when she used to run and skip along the railroad track ballast on her way to or from the small

schoolhouse. When she went to visit her Grandfather nearby, she also loved to watch him make things

out of wood, and treasured her time with him.

When she became an adult, B.J. was employed by one of the large department stores in Pittsburgh as

the fashion coordinator, where her responsibilities were to also decorate the many large window displays

that had to match the seasons. Her taste in clothing and accessories commensurately followed her the

rest of her life, as she was always neat and fresh looking whenever in public.

It was at this time that she met, and married a young musician in the U.S. Airforce, later having to travel to

Twickenham, England where her first daughter, Phyllis was born. B.J. was always so proud of having

travelled to England aboard the Queen Mary ocean liner. Upon her return to the United States, she gave

birth to her second daughter, Susan. Both daughters have been devoted to their mother, and now live in

Boise, Idaho and Alamogordo, New Mexico respectively.

B.J. married Robert Shernick in Colorado Springs, Colorado on August 21st 1975, and while she was

ongoing with her work in the El Paso County Assessor’s office, Robert continued with his teaching Art at

Coronado High School in Colorado Springs until his retirement in 1991. His career covered 38 years.

B.J. and Rob decided eventually to seek out a change that would involve travel in their motorhome, seek

new adventures of discovery in a new location for living and learning together the delight of the Sonoran

desert. The choice was to be away from the big city, and seek a location offering medical, shopping, and

scenic variety….hence it was waiting in Sierra Vista, Arizona. This turned out to be the very best one

could hope for, with great neighbors, organizations such as Veteran Autos, Bridge groups, and good

medical care. A life- long love for fishing was a high point in B.J.'s true interests and skills.

B.J. and Rob have had to endure the rigors of aging and commensurate health issues, but each had been

met with a strong bonding from supportive family. B.J. overcame some serious operations, but the

determination, and belief in living life to its fullest, have sustained her continued love for people, nature,

and all manner of wildlife. It was this simple guiding philosophy that made her such a delightful mother,

wife, and recipient of life's blessings right up to the last moments.

BARBARA JANE SHERNICK IS SURVIVED BY:

Robert H. Shernick , Husband, Sierra Vista, Arizona

Phyllis J. Weiderman, Daughter, Boise, Idaho

Susan R. Mount, Daughter, Alamogordo, New Mexico

Robert J.Shernick,Step Son, (Sandra) Winchester, Virginia

Mark A. Shernick, Step Son, Denver, Colorado

Christopher Masters, Step Son, (Elizabeth) Washington, D.C.

Michael Shernick, Step Son, (Martha) Longmont, Colorado

Brian Weiderman, Grandson, (Kate) Boise, Idaho

Kenneth Weiderman, Grandson, (Krista) Eureka, California

Christopher Weiderman, Grandson, (Janelle) Greenville, S. Carolina

Alex Masters, Grandson, Washington D.C.

Andrew Shernick, Grandson, Winchester, Virginia

Charles Shernick, Grandson, Winchester, Virginia

And 3 great grandchildren

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