Sheryl "Sherrie" Hoot (Larson)

Sherrie Hoot, proud member of the Golddigger Class of 1967, died November 19, 2024.

She was Gretchen’s mother, Jan’s [Smothers] sister, treated Shana and Nili as daughters, and was Grandma to Brody, Maddie, Diana, Robyn, Andy and Collin. Her 30+ years constant companion and eventual husband was Bruce Bernstein. As Sherrie Larson, she was the former wife of Duane Larson, Golddigger Class of 1966. 

Lover of Basset Hounds and all animals, Educator, former Loveland Ski Dodger, eventual black diamond skier, high school thespian, traveler, competitive tennis player, amateur artist, live theater and opera lover, Sherrie lived life with total zest. Sherrie rafted through the Grand Canyon and attended Opening Day at two Winter Olympics. A long-time member of Ports Of Call Travel Club, Sherrie took over two dozen Club trips. A true world traveler, Sherrie rushed off to visit China and Russia soon after they opened to U.S. tourists. She climbed Machu Picchu, visited the Galapagos Islands, ran the Bolder Boulder and The Slacker Half Marathon and the Evergreen Freedom Run numerous times, swam with dolphins in the Florida Keys, visited and raised funds for bicycles for poor kids in Costa Rica, survived night-riding in Mykonos on a motor scooter lacking a working headlight, got on the wrong train car in Europe and ended up in Italy instead of in Paris, watched glaciers calving in Alaska, went on safari in Africa, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and in many seas across the world, and climbed pyramids in Egypt. Sherrie celebrated her Scandinavian heritage by riding the Inlandsbanan train across Sweden to the Arctic Circle, enjoying the stops while the train yielded to reindeer on the tracks. Although super vulnerable to mosquito bites, Sherrie bravely toured the World Open Air Mosquito Museum on that train trip. She was a regular spectator at the Indian Wells Open for many years, enjoying the U.S. start of the annual world pro tennis tour. Sherrie also attended the U.S. Open several times as well as the Championships at Wimbledon. A genuine gregarious person, wherever she was Sherrie converted total strangers into friends within a few minutes. 

Sherrie was born Sheryl Hoot in Denver in 1949. She grew up in a home built by her father, Kenneth Hoot and her grandfather, in Pine Valley on Old Squaw Pass Road near Evergreen. As it was in Clear Creek County, just west of the Jefferson County/Clear Creek County line, Sherrie attended Clear Creek schools in Idaho Springs. After high school, Sherrie attended and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado. She also obtained a Master’s Degree from the University of Colorado-Denver. A 31-year educator with Denver Public Schools, the then Sherrie Larson trained at Skinner Middle School and Lincoln High School. Sherrie made a tremendous positive impact for years at Zuni Alternative School on hundreds of inner-city high school students who faced significant, unique challenges, until it was repurposed. She then spent several years at Kennedy High School, leaving at the request of the Principal of Martin Luther King Middle School to become one of its Assistant Principals for a year. Sherrie quickly realized she missed the loss of constant educational contact with students and chose to return to teaching at the end of that school year, being assigned to North High School where she continued to teach until retirement. Along this path Sherrie had her birth surname of Hoot restored.

 For most of her working years, Sherrie lived in Arvada. However, her residential heart always remained in the Rocky Mountains. She and Bruce purchased a home in Evergreen in 1997 and she lived there until a few weeks before her death. Sherrie loved Evergreen in general and her home there in particular almost as much as she loved the Basset Hounds who came into her life and then went all too quickly to The Rainbow Bridge with other beloved pets that passed on.

 In 2015, Sherrie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Regardless, she lived in her home, with resident Basset Hounds Steffi Graf and, until passing, Baghdatis. Bruce helped with this mission. In 2021, Sherrie needed and started getting help from visiting professional care givers in order to remain in her home. On September 15, 2024, after an apparent severe adverse reaction to a prescribed drug, Sherrie became wheelchair bound. After intensive rehabilitation efforts, Sherrie moved to a memory care facility in Arvada. She began losing her zest for life and died in hospice with her daughter, Gretchen, holding her hand. 

There will be a Celebration of this Wonderful Life on December 28th, starting at 11 a.m. in the Great Room of Epoque Apartments in Golden, 1175 Newstar Way. All who were touched by her life are welcome. Sherrie loved the holiday season; please dress in holiday cheer. 

Those who wish to remember Sherrie with a charitable donation might consider [Colorado] High Country Basset Rescue, All Ears Basset Sanctuary [New Mexico], or Friends of Charlie’s Place [Dumont CO]. And, if you have a dog or even a cat, give it some loving pats from Sherrie now and then.