Sharyl Ann Stevens was born September 29, 1945 to Darrell William and Ruth Elizabeth (Weak) Stevens in Santa Monica, California. She passed away on Monday, January 19, 2026 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Council Bluffs, Iowa at the age of 80 years, 3 months and 21 days.

Sharyl lived in Venice, California until the age of four when her parents decided to move back to Iowa to be closer to family. She has lived in Red Oak ever since. At the age of 12, Sharyl accepted her Lord and Savior while attending church camp and was baptized on December 7, 1958. Sharyl graduated in 1963, from Red Oak High School and furthered her education and graduated from Iowa Western Community College, Clarinda, Iowa in l965. On August 1, l965, Sharyl began her career as an employee of Montgomery County for the Montgomery County Sheriff's office. On June 1, l970, Sharyl was appointed and sworn in as the first female deputy sheriff for Montgomery County. She graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, Johnston, Iowa on October l4, l977. Sharyl served under four different sheriffs during her career: Chet McCune, Richard E. Harrell, Marvin E. Meggison and Jefferey H. Smith. She was about to serve under the fifth sheriff but reluctantly retired from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, after proudly serving Montgomery County for thirty-six and half years due to serious injuries sustained from a car-semi traffic accident on December 27, 2000 just north of Maryville, Missouri. Sharyl so enjoyed her job and loved being able to serve and help the citizens of Montgomery County. She served as secretary when the Montgomery County Crime Stoppers was first organized in l983, and secretary for Southwest Iowa Peace Officers Association, former member of Iowa State Sheriff's and Deputies Association and National Sheriff's and Deputies Association.

Sharyl had been a Sunday school teacher and loved working with the various youth programs throughout her life. She had a heart for church camp and was always promoting church camp to kids. Sharyl was adopted by many children who called her "Aunt", thus how she became known as "Aunt Sharyl" to many kids, and many in their adult life still called her "Aunt Sharyl" and passed this down to their children. Later on, other children adopted her as their "adopted grandma". On September 10, l996, she became a proud full blooded, honest to goodness "REAL AUNT" when her nephew Robert William Stevens was born. That was one of the happiest moments in Sharyl's life.

Sharyl was a member of Altrusa Club International up until her accident. She loved planting and caring for her flowers. She enjoyed photography, going to Bible studies, nature, feeding and watching birds and watching squirrels steal the bird food. Sharyl was a member of Faith Community Church in Red Oak. She was always eager to help, serve and encourage others around her.

Sharyl was preceded in death by her parents; Ruth Elizabeth (Weak) Stevens on October 17, 1990 and Darrell William Stevens on February 27, 2001; grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles and several cousins.

Sharyl is survived by her brother, Ronald William Stevens and his wife Nancy of Longmont, CO; nephew, Robert William "Robby" Stevens and partner Margrét Skowronski of Boulder, CO; many cousins and friends and all her adopted nieces, nephews and adopted grandchildren.

May God bless her memory and give strength to those who mourn.

Funeral Service will be held on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home, Red Oak, IA.

Burial in Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, IA.

Visitation with the family on Sunday, January 25, 2026 at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Family requests memorials in lieu of flowers to Faith Community Church Camp Fund, 2701 N 8th St. Red Oak, Iowa or Christ Cupboard Food Pantry 206 E. Coolbaugh St. Red Oak, Iowa.

Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home is in charge of Sharyl's arrangements and serving her family.