Sherryl McCrea Hunt Kelly
Sherryl McCrea Hunt Kelly
Sherryl McCrea Hunt Kelly, 81, of Mayville, passed away peacefully with family by her side on June 14, 2025, at Heritage Green. She was born Mar. 31, 1944, in Bartlesville, OK, the daughter of the late Maxine Smith and the late Robert McCrea. Known affectionately as “Shorty”, Sherryl was a member of Bemus Point High School class of 1962. She earned her GED in 1981, after her 1st 3 children had graduated from high school. She went on to graduate from Jamestown Community College in 2000 with a degree in Human Services.
In the early years, Sherryl devoted herself to raising her children and finally obtained her driver’s license in her 20s. She had numerous jobs over the years, including bus driver, bank teller, and CN/ HHA, and she worked for Heritage Green as a unit secretary for 20 years until she retired in 2020.
She was devoted to her family and encouraged them in every pursuit, filling their lives with love and joy and was a great example to emulate. She enjoyed her flower gardens, sitting by the fire, and enjoying the backyard in her pavilion. She enjoyed painting, mostly ceramics, almost all crafts, and was a talented artist. Sherryl played numerous instruments, including the violin, accordion, and piano. She also loved to listen to gospel and classic country music. She loved to travel and saw many places in her lifetime. Her favorite place in the whole world was Bonita Beach, FL. She loved animals and had numerous types of animals and pets throughout her life. Sherryl also loved the holidays, especially Christmas and the 4th of July. Sherryl did not know a stranger and was loved by all who knew or met her.
She is survived by her 5 children, Roderic (Mary) Hunt, Mayville, NY, Pamela Hunt, Fort Myers, FL, Shelly Hunt Bowen, Ripley, NY, Cheryl (Joe Russo) Hunt, Salt Lake City, UT, Christa Hunt, Margate, NJ. She is also survived by 3 stepdaughters, Kathy (Russell) Lewis, Buffalo, NY, Luann Kelly-Rudd, St. Augustine, FL, and Brenda (Paul) Faith, Butler, OH. Additionally, she is survived by 8 grandchildren, who all call her “Nanny”, Nikole (Myron) Bowen, Jared (Alyssia) Hunt, Blake (Laci) Richmond, Collin Griffith, Zachery (Emalee) Paulus, Anna (Nick) Hunt, Tara (AJ) Hulton, Alexander Hunt and 9 great grandchildren, Kaden, Blake, Colston, Lincoln, Elizabeth, Wyatt, Kayson, Harper, Julien, and she was looking forward to meeting her 10th great grandchild later this year. She is also survived by her loving siblings, Rhonda (John) LaMancuso, Donna (Herb) Sample, Bruce (Gail) Smith, Brian (Launi) McCrea, Michael (Datha) McCrea, Karen McCrea, and her dog, Barkley. In addition to her parents, Maxine & Richard Smith (whom she called her father) and Robert McCrea, she was preceded in death by her 1st husband, Lloyd A. Hunt, her 2nd husband, John “Jack” Kelly, her son Jason Hunt, and her grandson, Garett Bowen.
At Sherryl’s request, there will be no services, but a celebration of life will be held in mid-August.
Memorial donations can be made to the Mayville 4th of July Committee PO Box 229 Mayville, NY 14757 or the Art & Music department at Chautauqua Lake Central School, 100 North Erie St., Mayville, NY 14757.
To leave a remembrance or to post condolences to the family, please visit freayfuneralhome.com.