July 6, 2022
Sherry Gayle Chumbley Bush passed away on July 4, 2022 at age 85. She is preceeded in death by her parents Lucile Nixon Chumbley and John Herman Chumbley. Surviving family members include three sons: William Earl Bush, III, John Chumbley Bush, and Thomas Nixon Bush, seven grandchildren: William Earl Bush, IV, Eric Tye Bush, Evan Kyle Bush, Haley Brooke Bush, Allison Breanna Bush, Whiley Ray Bush, Elija Nixon Bush and one great granddaughter: Raleigh Bryne Bush.
Ms. Bush was born in Springfield, Tennessee on July 12, 1936. Her parents were highly respected and prominent educators in the DeKalb County school system, and she followed in their footsteps. Following high school graduation in 1954, Ms. Bush attended Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville for a year. She then transferred to Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro and earned a bachelor’s degree in education. After college, Ms. Bush married and became a a military spouse. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s, she lived and worked in several different areas of the United States and also in Germany. In 1974, she returned to middle Tennessee and worked for over thirty years in the DeKalb County School system, retiring in May of 2008 after a long tenure with DeKalb County Middle School. From 1998-2006, Ms. Bush also served as the Music Director at the First United Methodist Church in Smithville where she was a life long member. One of her favorite quotes came from John Wesley: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you, in all the ways you can, in all places you can, at all times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” Known for her exceptional warmth and kindness, Ms. Bush was loved and well respected in the community, and she will be deeply missed.
Visitation will be at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home on Thursday July 7th from 2 p.m.-7p.m.A funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Smithville on Friday July 8th at 11:00 a.m., with music beginning at 10:30 a.m.
The family has requested that donations please be made to Lighthouse Christian Camp in memory of Mrs. Bush.