Mary "Peggy/Gug" Alice (Cooke) Sherwood

Mary Alice Sherwood, lovingly known as Peggy or Gug, passed away peacefully during her afternoon nap on Tuesday, September 10th, at her home in Newaygo, Michigan.

Peggy was born on August 18, 1933, in Linville, North Carolina. She grew up in the mountains of North Carolina with her parents, Richard and Delana Cooke, as the fourth of ten children. She was preceded in death by her siblings: Lee (Ann) Cooke, Lillian (Howard) Ellis, Bob Cooke, George (Martha) Cooke, Janice (Michael) Payne, Martha (Thomas) Kincaid, and her brother-in-law, Charles Pittman. She was also preceded in death by her loving husband, Chauncey Sherwood, in 1994.

Peggy is survived by her sisters, Mamie (Tony) Luther and Linda (Cooke) Pittman, and her brother, David (Romana) Cooke. She is also survived by her biological son, Reid (Vicki) Sherwood, and her bonus son, Mike (Kathy) Parkhurst. The light of Peggy's life was her grandchildren: Bryan (Tom) Parkhurst, Juliana, and Jennifer (Mike) Mayle-Sherwood. Her greatest joy came from her great-grandchildren: Sydney Sherwood, Seth Sherwood, Bentley Sherwood, and Randy Austin, as well as the soon-to-be great-grandchildren, Damian and Konnor Mayle.

Peggy moved to Newaygo, Michigan, with her brother Lee and his family in the early 1950s, seeking employment in the manufacturing industry. She met Chauncey in 1952, and they married in 1957, building a happy life together in Newaygo. Peggy dedicated much of her career to working with adults with disabilities, developing a deep affection for special needs individuals, who, in turn, adored her.

After Chauncey's passing in 1994, Peggy retired and devoted her time to her young grandchildren, her church, Family of God Community Church in Newaygo, and volunteering in an elementary classroom a few mornings a week. Her devotion to her loved ones and her community was unwavering.

In 2009, her life found a new purpose with the arrival of her first great-grandchild, with whom she formed an incredible bond. For the next 15 years, Peggy's world revolved around her great-grandchildren, attending their baseball, football, soccer, and especially their basketball games – her favorite sport.

Peggy was an avid birdwatcher, often sitting for hours enjoying the various species that visited her numerous feeders. This passion was accompanied by an intense dislike for cats, as evidenced by the pile of rocks she kept near the door to chase them away from her beloved birds.

Known as "Gug" to her grandchildren since about 1994, Peggy was famous for baking cookies and delivering custard to anyone she thought was feeling under the weather, often resulting in people faking illness to receive a dish.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, September 17th, at Family of God Community Church, 90 Quarterline Rd., Newaygo, MI 49337. The family will receive visitors from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., with a short service beginning at 5:30 p.m. Soup and cookies, Peggy's favorite, will be served immediately following the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in Peggy’s honor be made to:

Paul Mercer Memorial Scholarship Fund
Newaygo Public School Administration Building
360 Mill St.
Newaygo, MI 49337

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